PLAYS  OF 
GODS  AND  MEN 


THE  TENTS  OF  THE  ARABS 
THE  LAUGHTER  OF  THE  GODS 
THE  QUEEN'S  ENEMIES 
A  NIGHT  AT  AN  INN 


BY 

LORD   DUNSANY 


G.  P.  PUTNAM'S  SONS 
NEW  YORK  AND  LONDON 


Copyright,  1917 
BY  JOHN  W.  LUCE  &  COMPANY 

Copyright,  1916 
BY  THE  SUNWISE  TURN,  INC. 

Copyright,  1915 
BY  THE  SMART  SET 


\W 


a 


Made  in  the  United  States  of  America 


856429 


•f 


Contents 

THE  TENTS  OF  THE  AKABS  .         .         .11 

THE  LAUGHTER  OF  THE  GODS  .  .  .51 
THE  QUEEN'S  ENEMIES  ....  131 
A  NIGHT  AT  AN  INN  171 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 


DRAMATIS  PERSONS 

THE  KING. 

BEL-NARB  ) 

>•  camel-drivers. 
AOOB 

THE  CHAMBERLAIN. 

ZABRA,  a  notable. 

EZNARZA,  a  gypsy  of  the  desert. 

SCENE: — Outside  the  gate  of  the  city 
of  Thalanna. 

TIME  : —  Uncertain. 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 


ACT  I. 

Outside  the  gate  of  the  city  of  Thalanna. 


By  evening  we  shall  be  in  the  desert  again. 

AOOB. 
Yes. 

BEL-NARB. 
Then  no  more  city  for  us  for  many  weeks. 

AOOB. 
Ah! 

BEL-NARB. 

We  shall  see  the  lights  come  out,  looking  back 
from  the  camel  -track  ;  that  is  the  last  we  shall  see 
of  it. 

AOOB. 

We  shall  be  in  the  desert  then. 
13 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

BEL-NAEB. 
The  old  angry  desert. 

AOOB. 

How  cunningly  the  desert  hides  his  wells.  You 
would  say  he  had  an  enmity  with  man.  He  does 
not  welcome  you  as  the  cities  do. 

BEL-NAEB. 
He  has  an  enmity.    I  hate  the  desert. 

AOOB. 

I  think  there  is  nothing  in  the  world  so  beauti- 
ful as  cities. 

BEL-NAEB. 
Cities  are  beautiful  things. 

AOOB. 

I  think  they  are  loveliest  a  little  after  dawn 
when  night  falls  off  from  the  houses.  They  draw 
it  away  from  them  slowly  and  let  it  fall  like  a 
cloak  and  stand  quite  naked  in  their  beauty  to 
shine  in  some  broad  river;  and  the  light  comes 
up  and  kisses  them  on  the  forehead.  I  think  they 
are  loveliest  then.  The  voices  of  men  and  women 
begin  to  arise  in  the  streets,  scarce  audible,  one 
by  one,  till  a  slow  loud  murmur  arises  and  all  the 

14 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

voices  are  one.  I  often  think  the  city  speaks  to 
me  then :  she  says  in  that  voice  of  hers,  "  Aoob. 
Aoob,  who  one  of  these  days  shall  die,  I  am  not 
earthly,  I  have  been  always,  I  shall  not  die." 

BEL-NARB. 

I  do  not  think  that  cities  are  loveliest  at  dawn. 
We  can  see  dawn  in  the  desert  any  day.  I  think 
they  are  loveliest  just  when  the  sun  is  set  and  a 
dusk  steals  along  the  narrower  streets,  a  dusk  that 
is  not  of  the  night  yet  not  of  the  day,  a  kind  of 
mystery  in  which  we  can  see  cloaked  figures  and 
yet  not  quite  discern  whose  figures  they  be.  And 
just  when  it  would  be  dark,  and  out  in  the  desert 
there  would  be  nothing  to  see  but  a  black  horizon 
and  a  black  sky  on  top  of  it,  just  then  the  swing- 
ing lanterns  are  lighted  up  and  lights  come  out  in 
windows  one  by  one  and  all  the  colours  of  the 
raiments  change.  Then  a  woman  perhaps  will 
slip  from  a  little  door  and  go  away  up  the  street 
into  the  night,  and  a  man  perhaps  will  steal  by 
with  a  dagger  for  some  old  quarrel's  sake,  and 
Skarmi  will  light  up  his  house  to  sell  brandy  all 
night  long,  and  men  will  sit  on  benches  outside 
his  door  playing  skabash  by  the  glare  of  a  small 
green  lantern,  while  they  light  great  bubbling 

15 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

pipes  and  smoke  nargroob.  O,  it  is  all  very  good 
to  watch.  And  I  like  to  think  as  I  smoke  and  see 
these  things  that  somewhere,  far  away,  the  desert 
has  put  up  a  huge  red  cloud  like  a  wing  so  that 
all  the  Arabs  know  that  next  day  the  Siroc  will 
blow,  the  accursed  breath  of  Eblis  the  father  of 
Satan. 

AOOB. 

Yes,  it  is  pleasant  to  think  of  the  Siroc  when 
one  is  safe  in  a  city,  but  I  do  not  like  to  think 
about  it  now,  for  before  the  day  is  out  we  will  be 
taking  pilgrims  to  Mecca,  and  who  ever  prophe- 
sied or  knew  by  wit  what  the  desert  had  in  store  ? 
Going  into  the  desert  is  like  throwing  bone  after 
bone  to  a  dog,  some  he  will  catch  and  some  of 
them  he  will  drop.  He  may  catch  our  bones,  or 
we  may  go  by  and  come  to  gleaming  Mecca. 
O-ho,  I  would  I  were  a  merchant  with  a  little 
booth  in  a  frequented  street  to  sit  all  day  and 
barter. 

BEL-NARB. 

Aye,  it  is  easier  to  cheat  some  lord  coming  to 
buy  silk  and  ornaments  in  a  city  than  to  cheat 
death  in  the  desert.  Oh,  the  desert,  the  desert,  I 
love  the  beautiful  cities  and  I  hate  the  desert. 

16 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

AOOB. 

[Pointing  off  L.] 

Who  is  that  ? 

BEL-NARB. 

What  ?  There  by  the  desert's  edge  where  the 
camels  are  ? 

AOOB. 

Yes,  who  is  it  ? 

BEL-NAKB. 

He  is  staring  across  the  desert  the  way  that  the 
camels  go.  They  say  that  the  King  goes  down  to 
the  edge  of  the  desert  and  often  stares  across  it, 
He  stands  there  for  a  long  time  of  an  evening 
looking  towards  Mecca. 

AOOB. 

Of  what  use  is  it  to  the  King  to  look  towards 
Mecca  ?  He  cannot  go  to  Mecca.  He  cannot  go 
into  the  desert  for  one  day.  Messengers  would 
run  after  him  and  cry  his  name  and  bring  him 
back  to  the  council-hall  or  to  the  chamber  of 
judgments.  If  they  could  not  find  him  their 
heads  would  be  struck  off  and  put  high  up  upon 
some  windy  roof :  the  judges  would  point  at  them 
and  say,  "  They  see  better  there  1 " 

17 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

BEL-NARB. 

No,  the  King  cannot  go  away  into  the  desert. 
If  God  were  to  make  me  King  I  would  go  down 
to  the  edge  of  the  desert  once,  and  I  would  shake 
the  sand  out  of  my  turban  and  out  of  my  beard 
and  then  I  would  never  look  at  the  desert  again. 
Greedy  and  parched  old  parent  of  thousands  of 
devils !  He  might  cover  the  wells  with  sand,  and 
blow  with  his  Siroc,  year  after  year  and  century 
after  century,  and  never  earn  one  of  my  curses— 
if  God  made  me  King. 

AOOB. 
They  say  you  are  like  the  King. 

BEL-NARB. 

Yes,  I  am  like  the  King.  Because  his  father 
disguised  himself  as  a  camel-driver  and  came 
through  our  villages.  I  often  say  to  myself, 
"  God  is  just.  And  if  I  could  disguise  myself  as 
the  King  and  drive  him  out  to  be  a  camel-driver, 
that  would  please  God  for  He  is  just." 

AOOB. 

If  you  did  this  God  would  say,  "  Look  at  Bel- 
Narb,  whom  I  made  to  be  a  camel-driver  and  who 

18 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

has  forgotten  this."    And  then  he  would  forget 
you,  Bel-Narb. 

BEL-NARB. 
Who  knows  what  God  would  say  ? 

AOOB. 
"Who  knows  ?    His  ways  are  wonderful. 

BEL-NARB. 

I  would  not  do  this  thing,  Aoob.  I  would  not 
do  it.  It  is  only  what  I  say  to  myself  as  I  smoke, 
or  at  night  out  in  the  desert.  I  say  to  myself, 
"Bel-Narb  is  King  in  Thalanna."  And  then  I 
say,  "Chamberlain,  bring  Skarmi  here  with  his 
brandy  and  his  lanterns  and  boards  to  play 
skabash,  and  let  all  the  town  come  and  drink  be- 
fore the  palace  and  magnify  my  name." 

PILGRIMS. 

[Calling,  off.] 

Bel-Narb!  Bel-Narb!  Child  of  two  dogs. 
Come  and  untether  your  camels.  Come  and  start 
for  holy  Mecca. 

BEL-NARB. 
A  curse  on  the  desert. 
19 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

AOOB. 

The  camels  are  rising.    The  caravan  starts  for 
Mecca.     Farewell,  beautiful  city. 

\Pilgrim£  voices   off:  "Bel-Narbl 


BEL-NABB. 
I  come,  children  of  sin. 

[Exeunt  Bel-Narb  and  Aoob.'] 

\The  King  enters  through  the  great  door 

crowned.     He  sits  upon  the  stepJ\ 

KING. 

A  crown  should  not  be  worn  upon  the  head. 
A  sceptre  should  not  be  carried  in  Kings'  hands. 
But  a  crown  should  be  wrought  into  a  golden 
chain,  and  a  sceptre  driven  stake-wise  into  the 
ground  so  that  a  King  may  be  chained  to  it  by  the 
ankle.  Then  he  would  know  that  he  might  not 
stray  away  into  the  beautiful  desert  and  might 
never  see  the  palm  trees  by  the  wells.  O  Thalanna, 
Thalanna,  how  I  hate  this  city  with  its  narrow, 
narrow  ways,  and  evening  after  evening  drunken 
men  playing  skabash  in  the  scandalous  gambling 
house  of  that  old  scoundrel  Skarmi.  O  that  I 
might  marry  the  child  of  some  unkingly  house 
that  generation  to  generation  had  never  known  a 

20 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

city,  and  that  we  might  ride  from  here  down  the 
long  track  through  the  desert,  always  we  two 
alone  till  we  came  to  the  tents  of  the  Arabs. 
And  the  crown — some  foolish,  greedy  man  should 
be  given  it  to  his  sorrow.  And  all  this  may  not 
be,  for  a  King  is  yet  a  King. 

[Enter  Chamberlain  through  doorJ] 

CHAMBERLAIN. 
Your  Majesty ! 

KING. 

Well,  my  lord  Chamberlain,  have  you  more 
work  for  me  to  do  ? 

CHAMBERLAIN. 
Yes,  there  is  much  to  do. 

KING. 

I  had  hoped  for  freedom  for  this  evening,  for 
the  faces  of  the  camels  are  towards  Mecca,  and  I 
would  see  the  caravans  move  oif  into  the  desert 
where  I  may  not  go. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

There  is  very  much  for  your  Majesty  to  do. 
Tktra  has  revolted. 

21 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

KING. 
Where  is  Iktra  ? 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

It  is  a  little  country  tributary  to  your  Majesty 
ibeyond  Zebdarlon,  up  among  the  hills. 

KINO. 

Almost,  had  it  not  been  for  this,  almost  I  had 
asked  you  to  let  me  go  away  among  the  camel- 
drivers  to  golden  Mecca.  I  have  done  the  work 
of  a  King  now  for  five  years  and  listened  to  my 
councillors,  and  all  the  while  the  desert  called  to 
me  ;  he  said,  "  Come  to  the  tents  of  my  children, 
to  the  tents  of  my  children  !  "  And  all  the  while 
I  dwelt  among  these  walls. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 
If  your  Majesty  left  the  city  now  — 

KING. 

I  will  not,  we  must  raise  an  army  to  punish  the 
men  of  Iktra. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

Your  Majesty  will  appoint  the  commanders  by 
name.  A  tribe  of  your  Majesty's  fighting  men 
must  be  summoned  from  Agrarva  and  another 
from  Coloono,  the  jungle  city,  as  well  as  one 

22 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

from  Mirsk.  This  must  be  done  by  warrants 
sealed  by  your  hand.  Your  Majesty's  advisers 
await  you  in  the  council-hall. 

KING. 

The  sun  is  very  low.  Why  have  the  caravans 
not  started  yet  ? 

CHAMBERLAIN. 
I  do  not  know.    And  then  your  Majesty 

KING. 

[Laying  his  hand  on  the    Chamberlain's 

arm.'] 

Look,  look  !  It  is  the  shadows  of  the  camels 
moving  towards  Mecca.  How  silently  they  slip 
over  the  ground,  beautiful  shadows.  Soon  they 
are  out  in  the  desert  flat  on  the  golden  sands. 
And  then  the  sun  will  set  and  they  will  be  one 
with  night. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

If  your  Majesty  has  time  for  such  things  there 
are  the  camels  themselves. 

KING. 

No,  no,  I  do  not  wish  to  watch  the  camels. 
They  can  never  take  me  out  to  the  beautiful  des- 
ert to  be  free  forever  from  cities.  Here  I  must 

23 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

stay  to  do  the  work  of  a  King.  Only  my  dreams 
can  go,  and  the  shadows  of  the  camels  carry  them, 
to  find  peace  by  the  tents  of  the  Arabs. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

Will  your  Majesty  now  come  to  the  council- 
hall? 

KING. 
Yes,  yes,  I  come. 

[Voices  of:  "Ho   To!    Ho   Yay !    Ho 

To.    Ho  Toy!99'] 

Now  the  whole  caravan  has  started.  Hark  to 
the  drivers  of  the  baggage-camels.  They  will  run 
behind  them  for  the  first  ten  miles,  and  to-morrow 
they  will  mount  them.  They  will  be  out  of  sight 
of  Thalanua  then,  and  the  desert  will  lie  all  round 
them  with  sunlight  falling  on  its  golden  smiles. 
And  a  new  look  will  come  into  their  faces.  I  am 
sure  that  the  desert  whispers  to  them  by  night 
saying,  "  Be  at  peace,  my  children,  at  peace,  my 
children." 

[Meanwhile  the  Chamberlain  has  opened  the 
door  for  the  King  and  is  waiting  there 
bowing,  with  his  hand  resolutely  on  the 
opened  doorJ] 

24 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

CHAMBERLAIN. 
Your  Majesty  will  come  to  the  council-hall  ? 

KING. 

Yes,  I  will  come.  Had  it  not  been  for  Iktra  I 
might  have  gone  away  and  lived  in  the  golden 
desert  for  a  year,  and  seen  holy  Mecca. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

Perhaps  your  Majesty  might  have  gone  had  it 
not  been  for  Iktra. 

KING. 
My  curse  upon  Iktra ! 

\He  goes  through  the  doorway. ~] 
[As  they  stand  in  doorway  enter  Zdbra  R.] 

ZABRA. 
Your  Majesty. 

KING. 
Oho.    More  work  for  an  unhappy  King. 

ZABRA. 
Iktra  is  pacified. 

KING. 
Is  pacified  ? 

ZABRA. 

It  happened  suddenly.  The  men  of  Iktra  met 
with  a  few  of  your  Majesty's  fighting  men  and  an 

25 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

arrow  chanced  to  kill  the  leader  of  the  revolt, 
and  therefore  the  mob  fled  away  although  they 
were  many,  and  they  have  all  cried  for  three 
hours,  "  Great  is  the  King !  " 

KING. 

I  will  even  yet  see  Mecca  and  the  dreamed-of 
tents  of  the  Arabs.  I  will  go  down  now  into  the 
golden  sands,  I 

CHAMBEKLAIN. 
Your  Majesty 

KING. 
In  a  few  years  I  will  return  to  you. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

Your  Majesty,  it  cannot  be.  "We  could  not 
govern  the  people  for  more  than  a  year.  They 
would  say,  "  The  King  is  dead,  the  King " 

KING. 
Then  I  will  return  in  a  year.    In  one  year  only. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 
It  is  a  long  time,  your  Majesty. 

KING. 

I  will  return  at  noon  a  year  from  to-day. 
26 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

But,  your  Majesty,  a  princess  is  being  sent  for 
from  Tharba. 

KING. 
I  thought  one  was  coming  from  Karshish. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

It  has  been  thought  more  advisable  that  your 
Majesty  should  wed  in  Tharba.  The  passes  across 
the  mountains  belong  to  the  King  of  Tharba  and 
he  has  great  traffic  with  Sharan  and  the  Isles. 

KING. 
Let  it  be  as  you  will. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

But,  your  Majesty,  the  ambassadors  start  this 
week ;  the  princess  will  be  here  in  three  months' 
time. 

KING. 
Let  her  come  in  a  year  and  a  day. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 
Your  Majesty ! 

KING. 

Farewell,  I  am  in  haste.  I  go  to  make  ready 
for  the  desert  [exit  through  door  still  speaking\, 
the  olden,  golden  mother  of  happy  men. 

27 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

\To  Zdbra.] 

One  from  whom  God  had  not  withheld  all  wis- 
dom would  not  have  given  that  message  to  our 
crazy  young  King. 

ZABRA. 

But  it  must  be  known.  Many  things  might 
happen  if  it  were  not  known  at  once. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

I  knew  it  this  morning.  He  is  off  to  the  desert 
now. 

ZABRA. 
That  is  evil  indeed  ;  but  we  can  lure  him  back. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 
Perhaps  not  for  many  days. 

ZABRA. 
The  King's  favour  is  like  gold. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

It  is  like  much  gold.  Who  are  the  Arabs  that 
the  King's  favour  should  be  cast  among  them  ? 
The  walls  of  their  houses  are  canvas.  Even  the 
common  snail  has  a  finer  wall  to  his  house. 

28 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

ZABRA. 

O,  it  is  most  evil.  Alas  that  I  told  him  this. 
We  shall  be  poor  men. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 
"No  one  will  give  us  gold  for  many  days. 

ZABRA. 

Yet  you  will  govern  Thalanna  while  he  is 
away.  You  can  increase  the  taxes  of  the  mer- 
chants and  the  tribute  of  the  men  that  till  the 
fields. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

They  will  only  pay  taxes  and  tribute  to  the 
King,  who  gives  of  his  bounty  to  just  and  upright 
men  when  he  is  in  Thalanna.  But  while  he  is 
away  the  surfeit  of  his  wealth  will  go  to  unjust 
men  and  to  men  whose  beards  are  unclean  and 
who  fear  not  God. 

ZABRA. 
We  shall  indeed  be  poor. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

A  little  gold  perhaps  from  evil-doers  for  justice. 
Or  a  little  money  to  decide  the  dispute  of  some 

29 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

righteous  wealthy  man ;  but  no  more  till  the  King 
returns,  whom  God  prosper. 

ZABKA. 

God  increase  him.  Will  you  yet  try  to  detain 
him? 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

No.  When  he  comes  by  with  his  retinue  and 
escort  I  will  walk  beside  his  horse  and  tell  him 
that  a  progress  through  the  desert  will  well  im- 
press the  Arabs  with  his  splendour  and  turn  their 
hearts  towards  him.  And  I  will  speak  privily  to 
some  captain  at  the  rear  of  the  escort  and  he  shall 
afterwards  speak  to  the  chief  commander  that  he 
may  lose  the  camel- track  in  a  few  days'  time  and 
take  the  King  and  his  followers  to  wander  in  the 
desert  and  so  return  by  chance  to  Thalanna  again. 
And  it  may  yet  be  well  with  us.  We  will  wait 
here  till  they  come  by. 

ZABEA. 

Will  the  chief  commander  do  this  thing  cer- 
tainly ? 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

Yes,  he  will  be  one  Thakbar,  a  poor  man  and  a 
righteous. 

30 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

ZABRA. 

But  if  he  be  not  Thakbar  but  some  greedy  man 
who  demands  more  gold  that  we  would  give 
to  Thakbar  ? 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

Why,  then  we  must  give  him  even  what  he  de- 
mands, and  God  will  punish  his  greed. 

ZABRA. 
He  must  come  past  us  here. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

Yes.  he  must  come  this  way.  He  will  summon 
the  cavalry  from  the  Saloia  Samang. 

ZABRA. 
It  will  be  nearly  dark  before  they  can  come. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

No,  he  is  in  great  haste.  He  will  pass  before 
sunset.  He  will  make  them  mount  at  once. 

ZABRA. 

[Looking  of  R.] 

I  do  not  see  any  stir  at  the  Saloia, 
31 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

{Looking  too.] 

No — No.     I  do  not  see.     He  will  make  a  stir. 

[As  they  look  a  man  comes  through  the 

doorway  wearing  a  coarse  brown  cloak 

which  falls  over  his  forehead.     He  exits 

furtively  L.] 

What  man  is  that  ?    He  has  gone  down  to  the 
camels. 

ZABRA. 

He  has  given  a  piece  of  money  to  one  of  the 
camel-drivers. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 
See,  he  has  mounted. 

ZABRA. 
Can  it  have  been  the  King ! 

[Voice  of  i.    "Ho-Pb/  Ho- Fay/"] 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

It  is  only  some  camel-driver  going  into  the  des- 
ert.    How  glad  his  voice  sounds. 

ZABRA. 

The  Siroc  will  swallow  him. 
32 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

CHAMBERLAIN. 
What — if  it  were  the  King ! 

ZABRA. 

Why,  if  it  were  the  King  we  should  starve  for 
a  year. 


CUETAIK 


33 


ACT  II. 

The  same  scene. 

One  year  has  elapsed. 

[The  King,  wrapped  in  a  camel-driver's 
cloak,  sits  by  Eznarza,  a  gypsy  of  the 
desert.  ~] 


Now  I  have  known  the  desert  and  dwelt  in  the 
tents  of  the  Arabs. 

EZNAKZA. 

There  is  no  land  like  the  desert  and  like  the 
Arabs  no  people. 

KING. 

It  is  all  over  and  done  ;  I  return  to  the  walls  of 
my  fathers. 

EZNARZA. 

Time  cannot  put  it  away;  I  go  back  to  the 
desert  that  nursed  me. 

KING. 

Did  you  think  in  those  days  on  the  sands,  or 
among  the  tents  in  the  mornings,  that  my  year 

34 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

would  ever  end,  and  I  be  brought  away  by 
strength  of  my  word  to  the  prisoning  of  a 
palace  ? 

EZNAEZA. 

I  knew  that  Time  would  do  it,  for  my  people 
have  learned  the  way  of  him. 

KING. 

Is  it  then  Time  that  has  mocked  our  futile 
prayers?  Is  he  greater  than  God  that  he  has 
laughed  at  our  praying  ? 

EZNAEZA. 

We  may  not  say  that  he  is  greater  than  God. 
Yet  we  prayed  that  our  own  year  might  not  pass 
away.  God  could  not  save  it. 


Yes,  yes.  We  prayed  that  prayer.  All  men 
would  laugh  at  it. 

EZNAEZA. 

The  prayer  was  not  laughable.  Only  he  that 
is  lord  of  the  years  is  obdurate.  If  a  man  prayed 
for  life  to  a  furious,  merciless  Sultan  well  might 
the  Sultan's  slaves  laugh.  Yet  it  is  not  laughable 
to  pray  for  life. 

35 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

KING. 

Yes,  we  are  slaves  of  Time.  To-morrow  brings 
the  princess  who  comes  from  Tharba.  We  must 
bow  our  heads. 

EZNAKZA. 

My  people  say  that  Time  lives  in  the  desert. 
He  lies  there  in  the  sun. 

KING. 
No,  no,  not  in  the  desert.    Nothing  alters  there. 

EZNAEZA. 

My  people  say  that  the  desert  is  his  country. 
He  smites  not  his  own  country,  my  people  say. 
But  he  overwhelms  all  other  lands  of  the  workL 

KING. 

Yes,  the  desert  is  always  the  same,  ev'n  th% 
littlest  rocks  of  it. 

EZNARZA. 

They  say  that  he  loves  the  Sphinx  and  does  not 
harm  her.  They  say  that  he  does  not  dare  to 
harm  the  Sphinx.  She  has  borne  him  many  gods 
whom  the  infidels  worship. 

KING. 

Their  father  is  more  terrible  than  all  the  false 
gods. 

36 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

EZNARZA. 

O,  that  he  had  but  spared  our  little  year. 

KING. 

He  destroys  all  things  utterly. 

EZNARZA. 

There  is  a  little  child  of  man  that  is  mightier 
than  he,  and  who  saves  the  world  from  Time. 

KING. 

Who  is  this  little  child  that  is  mightier  than 
Time  ?  Is  it  Love  that  is  mightier  ? 

EZNARZA. 

No,  not  Love. 

KING. 
If  he  conquer  even  Love  then  none  are  mightier. 

EZNARZA. 

He  scares  Love  away  with  weak  white  hairs 
and  with  wrinkles.  Poor  little  love,  poor  Love, 
Time  scares  him  away. 

KING. 

What  is  this  child  of  man  that  can  conquer 
Time  and  that  is  braver  than  Love  ? 

EZNAEZA. 
Even  Memory. 

37 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

KING. 

Yes.  I  will  call  to  him  when  the  wind  is  from 
the  desert  and  the  locusts  are  beaten  against  my 
obdurate  walls.  I  will  call  to  him  more  when  I 
cannot  see  the  desert  and  cannot  hear  the  wind 
of  it. 

EZNAKZA. 

He  shall  bring  back  our  year  to  us  that  Time 
cannot  destroy.  Time  cannot  slaughter  it  if 
Memory  says  no.  It  is  reprieved,  though  ban- 
ished. We  shall  often  see  it  though  a  little  far 
off  and  all  its  hours  and  days  shall  dance  to  us 
and  go  by  one  by  one  and  come  back  and  dance 
again. 

KING. 

"Why,  that  is  true.  They  shall  come  back  to  us. 
I  had  thought  that  they  that  work  miracles 
whether  in  Heaven  or  Earth  were  unable  to  do 
one  thing.  I  thought  that  they  could  not  bring 
back  days  again  when  once  they  had  fallen  into 
the  hands  of  Time. 

EZNARZA. 

It  is  a  trick  that  Memory  can  do.  He  comes 
up  softly  in  the  town  or  the  desert,  wherever  a 

38 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

few  men  are,  like  the  strange  dark  conjurors  who 
sing  to  snakes,  and  he  does  his  trick  before  them, 
and  does  it  again  and  again. 

KING. 

We  will  often  make  him  bring  the  old  days 
back  when  you  are  gone  to  your  people  and  I 
am  miserably  wedded  to  the  princess  coming 
from  Tharba. 

EZNARZA. 

They  will  come  with  sand  on  their  feet  from 
the  golden,  beautiful  desert,  they  will  come  with 
a  long-gone  sunset  each  one  over  his  head.  Their 
lips  will  laugh  with  the  olden  evening  voices. 

KING. 

It  is  nearly  noon.  It  is  nearly  noon.  It  is 
nearly  noon. 

EZNAKZA. 

Why,  we  part  then. 

KING. 

O,  come  into  the  city  and  be  Queen  there.  I 
will  send  its  princess  back  again  to  Tharba.  Y ou 
shall  be  Queen  in  Thalanna. 

39 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

EZNARZA. 

I  go  now  back  to  my  people.  You  will  wed 
the  princess  from  Tharba  on  the  morrow.  You 
have  said  it.  I  have  said  it. 


O,  that  I  had  not  given  my  word  to  return. 

EZNARZA. 

A  King's  word  is  like  a  King's  crown  and  a 
King's  sceptre  and  a  King's  throne.  It  is  in  fact 
a  foolish  thing,  like  a  city. 

KING. 

I  cannot  break  my  word.  But  you  can  be  queen 
in  Thalanna. 

EZNARZA. 
Thalanna  will  not  have  a  gypsy  for  a  queen. 

KING. 
I  will  make  Thalanna  have  her  for  a  queen. 

EZNARZA. 

You  cannot  make  a  gypsy  live  for  a  year  in  a 
city. 

KING. 

I  knew  of  a  gypsy  that  lived  once  in  a  city. 
40 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

EZNARZA. 

"Not  such  a  gypsy  as  I    »    .    .    com©  back  fco 
f,he  tents  of  the  Arabs. 

Kmo. 
I  cannot.    I  gave  my  word. 

EZNAKZA. 
Kings  have  broken  their  words. 

KING. 
Not  such  a  King  as  I. 

EZNAKZA. 

We  have  only  that  little  child  of  man  whose 
name  is  Memory. 

KING. 

Come.    He  shall  bring  back  to  us,  before  we 
part,  one  of  those  days  that  were  banished. 

EZNABZA. 

Let  it  be  the  first  day.     The  day  we  met  by  the 
well  when  the  camels  came  to  El-Lolith. 

KING. 

Our  year  lacked  some  few  days.     For  my  year 
began  here.    The  camels  were  some  days  out. 

41 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

EZNARZA. 

You  were  riding  a  little  wide  of  the  caravan, 
upon  the  side  of  the  sunset.  Your  camel  was 
swinging  on  with  easy  strides.  But  you  were 
tired. 

KING. 

You  had  come  to  the  well  for  water.  At  first 
I  could  see  your  eyes,  then  the  stars  came  out, 
and  it  grew  dark  and  I  only  saw  your  shape,  and 
there  was  a  little  light  about  your  hair  :  I  do  not 
know  if  it  was  the  light  of  the  stars,  I  only  knew 
that  it  shone. 

EZNAKZA. 

And  then  you  spoke  to  me  about  the  camels. 


Then  I  heard  your  voice.    You  did  not  say  the 
things  you  would  say  now. 

EZNARZA. 

Of  course  I  did  not. 

KING. 
You  did  not  say  things  in  the  same  way  even. 

EZNAKZA. 

How  the  hours  come  dancing  back. 
42 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

KING. 

No,  no.  Only  their  shadows.  We  went  to- 
gether then  to  Holy  Mecca.  We  dwelt  alone  in 
tents  in  the  golden  desert.  We  heard  the  wild 
free  day  sing  songs  in  his  freedom,  we  heard  the 
beautiful  night-wind.  Nothing  remains  of  our 
year  but  desolate  shadows.  Memory  whips  them 
and  they  will  not  dance. 

\_Eznarza  does  not  answer.'] 
We  made  our  farewells  where  the  desert  was. 
The  city  shall  not  hear  them. 

[Eznarza  covers  her  face.  The  King  rises 
softly  and  walks  up  the  steps.  Enter  L. 
the  Chamberlain  and  Zabra,  only  notic- 
ing each  other.~\ 

CHAMBERLAIN. 
He  will  come.    He  will  come. 

ZABEA. 

But  it  is  noon  now.  Our  fatness  has  left  us. 
Our  enemies  mock  at  us.  If  he  do  not  come  God 
has  forgotten  us  and  our  friends  will  pity  us! 

CHAMBERLAIN. 
If  he  is  alive  he  will  come. 

[Enter  Eel-Narb  and  AoolJ] 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

ZABRA. 
I  fear  that  it  is  past  noon. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

Then  he  is  dead  or  robbers  have  waylaid  him. 
[Chamberlain  and  Zabra  put  dust  on 

their  heads.] 

BEL-NARB. 

[To  Aoob.] 
God  is  just ! 

[To  Chamberlain  and  Zdbra.] 
I  am  the  King ! 

[The  King's  hand  is  on  the  door.  When 
Bel-Narb  says  this  he  goes  down  the 
steps  again  and  sits  beside  the  gypsy. 
She  raises  her  head  from  her  hands  and 
looks  at  him  fixedly.  He  partially 
covers  his  face  Arab  fashion  and 
watches  Bel-Narb  and  the,  Chamberlain 
and  ZdbraJ] 

CHAMBERLAIN. 
Are  you  indeed  the  King  ? 

BEL-NARB. 
I  am  the  King. 

44 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

CHAMBEELAIN. 

Your  Majesty  has  altered  much  since  a  year 
ago. 

BEL-NAEB. 
Men  alter  in  the  desert.    And  alter  much. 

AOOB. 

Indeed,  your  Excellency,  he  is  the  King.  When 
the  King  went  into  the  desert  disguised  I  fed  his 
camel.  Indeed  he  is  the  King. 

ZABEA. 

He  is  the  King.  I  know  the  King  when  I  see 
him. 

CHAMBEELAIN. 
You  have  seen  the  King  seldom. 

ZABEA. 
I  have  often  seen  the  King. 

BEL-NAEB. 
Yes,  we  have  often  met,  often  and  often. 

CHAMBEELAIN. 

If  some  one  could  recognize  your  Majesty,  some 
one  besides  this  man  who  came  with  you,  then  we 
should  all  be  certain. 

45 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

BEL-NARB. 
There  is  no  need  of  it.    I  am  the  King. 

[The  King  rises  and  stretches  out  his  hand 

palm  downwards.] 

KING. 

In  holy  Mecca,  in  green-roofed  Mecca  of  the 
many  gates,  we  knew  him  for  the  King. 

BEL-NARB. 
Yes,  that  is  true.    I  saw  this  man  in  Mecca. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 

\_J3owing  low.~\ 

Pardon,  your  Majesty.    The  desert  had  altered 
you. 

ZABEA. 
/knew  your  Majesty. 

AOOB. 
As  well  as  I  do. 

BEL-NARB. 

[Pointing  to  the  Kingl\ 

Let  this  man  be  rewarded  suitably.     Give  him 
some  post  in  the  palace. 

CHAMBERLAIN. 
Yes,  your  Majesty. 

46 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

KINO. 
I  am  a  camel-driver  and  we  go  back  to  our 

camels. 

CHAMBEKLAIN. 
As  you  wish. 

[Exeunt  Bel-Narb,  Aoob,  Chamberlain  and 
Zdbra  through  door.] 

EZNAKZA. 

You  have  done  wisely,  wisely,  and  the  reward 
of  wisdom  is  happiness. 

KING. 

They  have  their  king  now.     But  we  will  turn 
again  to  the  tents  of  the  Arabs. 

EZNARZA. 

They  are  foolish  people. 

KING. 
They  have  found  a  foolish  king. 

EZNAEZA. 

It  is  a  foolish  man  that  would  choose  to  dwell 
among  walls. 

KING. 

Some  are  born  kings,  but  this  man  has  chosen 
to  be  one. 

47 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

EZNARZA. 

Come,  let  us  leave  them. 

KING. 
We  will  go  back  again. 

EZNARZA. 
Come  back  to  the  tents  of  my  people. 

KING. 

We  will  dwell  a  little  apart  in  a  dear  brown 
fcent  of  our  own. 

EZNAEZA. 

We  shall  hear  the  sand  again,  whispering  low 
to  the  dawn- wind. 

KING. 

We  shall  hear  the  nomads  stirring  in   their 
camps  far  off  because  it  is  dawn. 

EZNAKZA. 

The  jackals  will  patter  past  us  slipping  back  to 
the  hills. 

KING. 

When  at  evening  the  sun  is  set  we  shall  weep 
for  no  day  that  is  gone. 

48 


The  Tents  of  the  Arabs 

EZNARZA. 

I  will  raise  up  my  head  of  a  night-time  against 
the  sky,  and  the  old,  old  unbought  stars  shall 
twinkle  through  my  hair,  and  we  shall  not  envy- 
any  of  the  diademmed  queens  of  the  world. 


CURTAIN 


40 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 
A  Tragedy  in  Three  Acts 


DRAMATIS  PERSONS 

KING  KARNOS. 

VoiCE-OF-THE-GoDS,  a  prophet. 

ICHTHARION. 

LUDIBRAS. 

HARPAGAS. 

FIRST  SENTRY. 

SECOND  SENTRY. 

ONE  OF  THE  CAMEL  GUARD. 

AN  EXECUTIONER. 

THE  QUEEN. 

THARMIA,  wife  of  Ichtharion. 

AROUND,  wife  of  Ludibras. 

CAROL YX,  wife  of  Harpagas. 

ATTENDANTS. 

SCENE: — The  jungle  city  of  Thek  in 
the  reign  of  King  Karnos. 

TIME: — About  the  time  of  the  de- 
cadence in  Babylon. 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 


ACT  I. 

The  jungle  city  of  Thek  in  the  reign  of  King 
Karnos. 

THAEMIA. 
You  know  that  my  lineage  is  almost  divine. 

AEOLLND. 

My  father's  sword  was  so  terrible  that  he  had 
to  hide  it  with  a  cloak. 

THAEMIA. 

He  probably  did  that  because  there  were  no 
jewels  in  the  scabbard. 

AEOLI:NT>. 

There  were  emeralds  in  it  that  outstared  the 
sea. 

*  *  * 

* 

THAEMIA. 

Now  I  must  leave  you  here  and  go  down 
among  the  shops  for  I  have  not  changed  my  hair 
since  we  came  to  Thek. 

66 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

ICHTHARION. 

Have  you  not  brought  that  from  Barbul-el- 
Sharnak  ? 

TH.ABMIA* 

It  was  not  necessary.  The  King  would  not 
take  his  court  where  they  could  not  obtain  neces- 
sities. 

ABOUND. 
May  I  go  with  your  Sincerity  ? 

THARMIA. 

Indeed,  Princely  Lady,  I  shall  be  glad  of  your 
company. 

AROUND. 

[  To  Ludibras.] 

I  wish  to  see  the  other  palaces  in  Thek,  [to 
Tharmid]  then  we  can  go  beyond  the  walls  to 
see  what  princes  live  in  the  neighbourhood. 

THARMIA. 
It  will  be  delightf  ul. 

[Exeunt  Tharmia  and  Arolind.\ 

lOHTHARION. 

Well,  we  are  here  in  Thek. 
56 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

LUDIBRAS. 

How  lucky  we  are  that  the  King  has  come  to 
Thek.  I  feared  he  would  never  come. 

ICHTHAKION. 

It  is  a  most  fair  city. 

LUDIBRAS. 

When  he  still  tarried  year  after  year  in  mon- 
strous Barbul-el-Sharnak,  I  feared  that  I  would 
see  the  sun  rise  never  more  in  the  windy  glorious 
country.  I  feared  we  should  live  always  in 
Barbul-el-Sharnak  and  be  buried  among  houses. 

ICHTHARION. 

It  is  mountainous  with  houses :  there  are  no 
flowers  there.  I  wonder  how  the  winds  come 
into  it. 

LUDIBEAS. 

Ah.  Do  you  know  that  it  is  I  that  brought 
him  here  at  last?  I  gave  him  orchids  day  by 
day  that  came  from  a  far  country.  At  last  he 
noticed  them.  "  These  are  good  flowers,"  said 
he.  "  They  come  from  Thek,"  I  said.  "  Thek  is 
purple  with  them.  It  seems  purple  far  out  on  the 
sand  to  the  camel  men."  Then  .  .  . 

57 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

ICHTHARION. 

"No,  it  was  not  you  that  brought  him.  He  saw 
a  butterfly  once  in  Barbul-el-Sharnak.  There  had 
not  been  one  there  for  seven  years.  It  was  lucky 
for  us  that  it  lived :  I  used  to  send  for  hundreds, 
but  they  all  died  but  that  one  when  they  came  to 
Barbul-el-Sharnak.  The  King  saw  it. 

LUDIBRAS. 

It  was  since  then  that  he  noticed  my  purple 
orchids. 

ICHTHARION. 

Something  changed  in  his  mind  when  he  saw 
the  butterfly.  He  became  quite  different.  He 
would  not  have  noticed  a  flower  but  for  that. 

LUDIBRAS. 
He  came  to  Thek  in  order  to  see  the  orchids. 

ICHTHARION. 

Come,  come.  We  are  here.  Nothing  else 
matters. 

LUDIBRAS. 

Yes,  we  are  here.  How  beautiful  are  the 
orchids. 

ICHTHARION. 

What  a  beautiful  thing  the  air  is  in  the  morn^ 
ing.  I  stand  up  very  early  and  breathe  it  from 

58 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

my  casement :  not  in  order  to  nourish  my  body, 
you  understand,  but  because  it  is  the  wild,  sweet 
air  of  Thek. 

LUDIBEAS. 

Yes,  it  is  wonderful  rising  up  in  the  morning. 
It  seems  all  fresh  from  the  fields. 

ICHTHAEIOIST. 

It  took  us  three  days  to  ride  out  of  Barbul-el- 
Sharnak.  Do  you  remember  how  men  stared  at 
our  camels?  No  one  had  gone  away  from  the 
city  for  years. 

LUDIBEAS. 

I  think  it  is  not  easy  to  leave  so  great  a  city. 
It  seems  to  grow  thicker  around  you,  and  you 
forget  the  fields. 

ICHTHAEION. 

[Looking  off.~\ 

The  jungle  is  like  a  sea  lying  there  below  us. 
The  orchids  that  blaze  on  it  are  like  Tyrian  ships, 
all  rich  with  purple  of  that  wonderful  fish  ;  they 
have  even  dyed  their  sails  with  it. 

LUDIBEAS. 

They  are  not  like  ships  because  they  do  not 
move.  They  are  like  .  .  .  They  are  like  no 

59 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

tangible  thing  in  all  the  world.  They  are  like 
faint,  beautiful  songs  of  an  unseen  singer ;  they 
are  like  temptation  to  some  unknown  sin.  They 
make  me  think  of  the  tigers  that  slip  through  the 
gloom  below  them. 

[Enter  Harpagas  and  attendants  with 
spears  and  leatJier  belts.] 

ICHTHARION. 

Why,  where  are  you  going  ? 

HARPAGAS. 
We  are  going  hunting. 

ICHTHARION. 

Hunting  !    How  beautiful ! 

HARPAGAS. 

A  little  street  goes  down  from  the  palace  door ; 
the  other  end  of  it  touches  the  very  jungle. 

LUDIBRAS. 
O,  heavenly  city  of  Thek. 

ICHTHARION. 

Have  you  ever  before  gone  hunting  ? 

HARPAGAS. 

No:  I  have  dreamed  of  it.     In  Barbul-el-Shar- 
nak  I  nearly  forgot  my  dream. 

60 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

ICHTIIARION. 

Man  was  not  made  for  cities.  I  did  not  know 
this  once. 

LUDIBEAS. 
I  will  come  with  you. 

ICHTHARION. 

I  will  come  with  you,  too.  We  will  go  down 
by  the  little  street,  and  there  will  be  the  jungle. 
I  will  fetch  a  spear  as  we  go. 

LUDIBEAS. 
What  shall  we  hunt  in  the  jungle  ? 

HARPAGAS. 

They  say  there  are  kroot  and  abbax ;  and  tigers, 
some  say,  have  been  heard  of.  We  must  never 
go  back  to  Barbul-el-Sharnak  again. 

ICHTHARION. 
You  may  rely  on  us. 

LUDIBRAS. 
We  shall  keep  the  King  in  Thek. 

[Exeunt,  leaving  two  sentries  standing  be- 
side the  throne.] 

IST  SENTRY. 

They  are  all  very  glad  to  be  in  Thek.  I,  too, 
am  glad. 

61 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

2ND  SENTRY. 

It  is  a  very  little  city.  Two  hundred  of  these 
cities  would  not  build  Barbul-el-Sharnak. 

IST  SENTRY. 

No.  But  it  is  a  finer  palace,  and  Barbul-el-Shar- 
nak is  the  centre  of  the  world :  men  have  drawn 
together  there. 

2ND  SENTRY. 

I  did  not  know  there  was  a  palace  like  this  out- 
side Barbul-el-Sharnak. 

IST  SENTRY. 

It  was  built  in  the  days  of  the  Forefather. 
They  built  palaces  in  those  days. 

2ND  SENTRY. 

They  must  be  in  the  jungle  by  now.  It  is  quite 
close.  How  glad  they  were  to  go. 

IST  SENTRY. 

Yes,  they  were  glad.  Men  do  not  hunt  for 
tigers  in  Barbul-el-Sharnak. 

[Enter  Tharmia  and  Arolind  weeping. ~\ 

THARMIA. 
O  it  is  terrible. 

62 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

ABOLIND. 
O!  O!  0! 

IST  SENTRY. 

[To  2nd  Sentry] 
Something  has  happened. 

[Enter  Carolyx] 

CAROLYX. 
What  is  it,  princely  ladies  ? 

[To  Sentries] 
Go.     Go  away. 

[Exeunt  Sentries] 
What  has  happened  ? 

THARMIA. 
O.     We  went  down  a  little  street. 

CAROLYX. 

Yes.     Yes. 

AROUND. 
The  main  street  of  the  city. 

[Both  weep  quietly] 

CAROLYX. 
Yes.     Yes.     Yes. 

THARMIA. 
It  ends  in  the  jungle. 

63 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

CAEOLYX. 

You  went  into  the  jungle!    There  must  be 
tigers  there. 

THAEMIA. 
No. 

AEOLIND. 
No. 

CAEOLYX. 
What  did  you  do  ? 

THAEMIA, 
We  came  back. 

CAEOLYX. 

[In  a  voice  of  anguish.] 
What  did  you  see  in  the  street  ? 

THAEMIA. 
Nothing. 

AEOLIND. 
Nothing. 

CAEOLYX, 
Nothing  ? 

THAEMIA. 
There  are  no  shops. 

AEOLINIX 

We  cannot  buy  new  hair, 
64 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

THARMIA. 

"We  cannot  buy  [sobs]   gold-dust  to  put  upon 
our  hair. 

AROLLND. 
There  are  no  [sobs]  neighbouring  princes. 

CAROLYX. 

[.Bursts  bitterly  into  tears  and  continues 

to  weep.] 

THARMIA. 

Barbul-el-Sharnak,  Barbul-el-Sharnak.     O  why 
did  the  King  leave  Barbul-el-Sharnak  ? 

AROLIKD. 
Barbul-el-Sharnak.    Its  streets  were  all  of  agate. 

THARMIA. 

And  there  were  shops  where  one  bought  beauti- 
ful hair. 

CAROLYX. 
The  King  must  go  at  once. 

THARMIA. 

[Calmer  nowl} 

He    shall   go  to-morrow.    My  husband  shall 
speak  to  him. 

65 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

ABOUND. 

Perhaps  my  husband  might  have  more  influ- 
ence. 

THAKMIA  AND  AROLIND, 
My  husband  brought  him  here. 

THAKMIA. 
What! 

AROLIND, 
Nothing.  "What  did  you  say  ? 

THARMIA. 
I  said  nothing.  I  thought  you  spoke. 

CAROLYX. 

It  may  be  better  for  my  husband  to  persuade 
the  King,  for  he  was  ever  opposed  to  his  coming 
to  Thek. 

THARMIA. 

[To  Arolmd.} 

He  could  have  but  little  influence  with  His 
Majesty  since  the  King  has  come  to  Thek. 

AROLIND. 

No.  It  will  be  better  for  our  husbands  to  ar- 
range it. 

CAROLYX. 

I  have  myself  some  influence  with  the  Queen. 
66 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

THAKMIA. 

It  is  of  no  use.  Her  nerves  are  all  a-quiver. 
She  weeps  if  you  speak  with  her.  If  you  argue  a 
matter  with  her  she  cries  aloud  and  maidens  must 
come  and  fan  her  and  put  scent  on  her  hands. 

ABOUND. 

She  never  leaves  her  chamber  and  the  King 
would  not  listen  to  her. 

THAKMIA. 

Hark,  they  are  coming  back.  They  are  sing- 
ing a  hunting  song.  .  .  .  Why,  they  have 
killed  a  beast.  All  four  of  the  men  are  bringing 
it  on  two  branches. 

AEOLIND. 

[Bored.} 
What  kind  of  a  beast  is  it  ? 

THARMIA. 
I  do  not  know.    It  seems  to  have  barbed  horns. 

CAEOLYX. 
We  must  go  and  meet  them. 

[The  song  is  loud  and  joyous.    Exeunt  ly 
the  way  that  the  Sentries  went.] 

[Enter  SentriesJ] 
67 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

IST  SENTRY. 

Whatever  it  is  it  has  passed  away  again  for 
they  were  smiling. 

2ND  SENTRY. 

They  feared  that  their  husbands  were  lost  and 
now  they  return  in  safety. 

IST  SENTRY. 

You  do  not  know,  for  you  do  not  understand 
women. 

2ND  SENTRY. 
I  understand  them  quite  as  well  as  you. 

IST  SENTRY. 

That  is  what  I  say.    You  do  not  understand 
women.    I  do  not  understand  them. 

2ND  SENTRY. 
«...    Oh. 

[A  pause  ] 
IST  SENTRY. 
We  shall  never  leave  Thek  now. 

2ND  SENTRY. 
Why  shall  we  never  leave  it  ? 

IST  SENTRY. 

Did  you  not  hear  how  glad  they  were  when 
they  sang  the  hunting  song  ?    They  say  a  wild 

68 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

dog  does  not  turn  from  the  trail,  they  will  go  on 
hunting  now. 

2ND  SENTRY. 
But  will  the  King  stay  here  ? 

IST  SENTRY. 

He  only  does  what  Ichtharion  and  Ludibras 
persuade  him.  He  does  not  listen  to  the  Queen. 

2ND  SENTRY. 
The  Queen  is  mad. 

IST  SENTRY. 

She  is  not  mad  but  she  has  a  curious  sickness, 
she  is  always  frightened  though  there  is  nothing 
to  fear. 

2ND  SENTRY. 

That  would  be  a  dreadful  sickness ;  one  would 
fear  that  the  roof  might  fall  on  one  from  above 
or  the  earth  break  in  pieces  beneath.  I  would 
rather  be  mad  than  to  fear  things  like  that. 

IST  SENTRY. 

[Looking  straight  before  him.] 
Hush. 

[Enter  King  and  retinue.     He  sits  on  the 

throne.] 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

[.Enter from  other  side  Ichtharion,  Ludibras 
and  Harpagas,  each  with  his  wife  beside 
him,  hand  in  hand.  Each  couple  bows 
before  the  King,  still  hand  in  hand ; 
then  they  seat  themselves.  The  King 
nods  once  to  each  couple.] 

KING. 

[To  Thannia.] 

Well,  your  Sincerity,  I  trust  that  you  are  glad 
to  have  coine  to  Thek. 

THAEMIA. 
Very  glad,  your  Majesty. 

KING. 

[To  Arolind.] 

This  is  pleasanter,  is  it  not,  than  Barbul  el- 
Sharnak  ? 

AKOLIND. 
Far  pleasanter,  your  Majesty. 

KING. 

Arid  you,  princely  lady  Carolyx,  find  all  that 
you  need  in  Thek  ? 

CAROLYX. 

More  than  all,  your  Majesty. 
70 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

KING. 

[To  UarpagasJ] 
Then  we  can  stay  here  long,  can  we  not  ? 

HAKPAGAS. 

There  are  reasons  of  State  why  that  were  dan- 
gerous. 

KING. 

Eeasons  of  State?  Why  should  we  not  stay 
here? 

HARP  A  GAS. 

Your  Majesty,  there  is  a  legend  in  the  World, 
that  he  who  is  greatest  in  the  city  of  Barbul-el- 
Sharnak  is  the  greatest  in  the  world. 

KING. 
I  had  not  heard  that  legend. 

HARPAGAS. 

Your  Majesty,  little  legends  do  not  hive  in  the 
sacred  ears  of  kings ;  nevertheless  they  hum 
among  lesser  men  from  generation  unto  genera- 
tion. 

KING. 
I  will  not  go  for  a  legend  to  Barbul-el-Sharnak. 

HARPAGAS. 

Your  Majesty,  it  is  very  dangerous.    .    .    * 
71 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

KING. 

[To  Ladies.] 

We  discuss  things  of  State  which  little  interest 
your  Sincerities. 

THARMIA. 


Your  Majesty,  we  are  ignorant  of  these  things. 

[Exeunt.'} 

KING. 

[To  Ichtharion  and  Ludibras.] 
We  will  rest  from  things  of  State  for  awhile, 
shall  we  not  ?    We  will  be  happy,  shall  we  not,  in. 
this  ancient  beautiful  palace  ? 

LUDIBRAS. 

If  your  Majesty  commands,  we  must  obey. 

KING. 

But  is  not  Thek  most  beautiful  ?  Are  not  the 
jungle  orchids  a  wonder  and  a  glory  ? 

LUDIBRAS. 

They  have  been  thought  so,  your  Majesty  ;  they 
were  pretty  in  Barbul-el-Sharnak  where  they  were 
rare, 

72 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

KING. 

But  when  the  sun  comes  over  them  in  the  morn* 
ing,  when  the  dew  is  on  them  still :  are  they  not 
glorious  then  ?  Indeed,  they  are  very  glorious. 

LUDIBRAS. 

I  think  they  would  be  glorious  if  they  were 
blue,  and  if  there  were  fewer  of  them. 

Kiisra. 

I  do  not  think  so.  But  you,  Ichtharion,  you 
think  the  city  beautiful  ? 

ICHTHARION. 
Yes,  your  Majesty. 

KINGK 

Ah.  I  am  glad  you  love  it.  It  is  to  me  ador- 
able. 

ICHTHARION. 

I  do  not  love  it,  your  Majesty.  I  hate  it  very 
much.  I  know  it  is  beautiful  because  your  Maj- 
esty has  said  so. 

LUDIBRAS. 

This  city  is  dangerously  unhealthy,  your  Maj- 
esty. 

73 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

HAEPAGAS. 

It  is  dangerous  to  be  absent  from  Barbul-el- 
Sharnak. 

ICHTHARION. 

We  implore  your  Majesty  to  return  to  the 
centre  of  the  World. 

KING. 
I  will  not  go  again  to  Barbul-el-Sharnak. 

[Exeunt  King  with  attendants.    Ichtharion, 

Ludibras  and  Harpagas  remain."] 

[Enter  Arolind  and  Carolyx ;  each  goes  up 

to  her  husband  very  affectionate, ,] 

ABOUND. 
And  you  talked  to  the  King  ? 

LUDIBKAS. 
Yes. 

AKOLIND. 

You  told  him  he  must  go  back  to  Barbul-el- 
Sharnak  at  once  ? 

LUDIBKAS. 
Well,!    .    .    . 

AKOLIND. 
When  does  he  start  ? 

74 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

LUDIBRAS. 

He  did  not  say  he  will  start. 

AROLIND. 
What! 

CAROLYX. 
We  are  not  going  ? 

[Arolind  and  Carolyx  weep  and  step  away 
from  their  husbands.'] 

LUDIBRAS. 

But  we  spoke  to  the  King. 

AROLIND. 
O,  we  must  stay  and  die  here. 

LUDIBRAS, 
But  we  did  what  we  could. 

AROLIND. 
O,  I  shall  be  buried  in  Thek. 

LUDIBRAS. 
I  can  do  no  more. 

AROLIND. 

My  clothes  are  torn,  my  hair  is  old.    I  am  in 
rags. 

LUDIBRAS. 
I  am  sure  you  are  beautifully  dressed. 

75 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

AKOLIKD. 

[Full  height] 

Beautifully  dressed  1  Of  course  I  am  beauti- 
fully dressed !  But  who  is  there  to  see  me  ?  I 
am  alone  in  the  jungle,  and  here  I  shall  be  buried 

LUDIBRAS. 
But    ... 

AKOLIND. 

Oh,  will  you  not  leave  me  alone  ?  Is  nothing 
sacred  to  you  ?  Not  even  my  grief  ? 

[Exeunt  Arolind  and  CarolyxJ] 

HARPAGAS. 

[To  Ludibras.] 

What  are  we  to  do  ? 

LUDIBRAS. 
All  women  are  alike. 

IOHTHARION. 

I  do  not  allow  my  wife  to  speak  to  me  like  that. 
[Exeunt  Harpagas  and  Ludibras] 
I  hope  Tharmia  will  not  also  weep ;  it  is  very 
distressing  to  see  a  woman  in  tears. 

[Enter  Tharmia.'] 

Do  not  be  unhappy,  do  not  be  at  all  unhappy. 
But  I  have  been  unable  to  persuade  the  King  to 

76 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

return  to  Barbul-el-Sharnak.     You  will  be  happy 
here  after  a  little  while. 

THAEMIA. 

[JSreaks  into  loud  laughter.] 
You  are  the  King's  adviser.  Ha — ha — ha  ! 
You  are  the  Grand  High  Yizier  of  the  Court. 
Ha— ha — ha.  You  are  the  warder  of  the  golden 
wand.  Ha — ha — ha !  O,  go  and  throw  biscuits 
to  the  King's  dog. 

ICHTHARION. 

What! 

THARMIA. 

Throw  little  ginger  biscuits  to  the  King's  dog. 
Perhaps  he  will  obey  you.  Perhaps  you  will  have 
some  influence  with  the  King's  dog  if  you  feed 

him  with  little  biscuits.     You 

[Laughs  and  exits.] 

ICHTHARION. 

[Sits  with  his  miserable  head  in  his  hands] 
.  \_Reenter  Ludibras  and  Harpagas] 

LUDIBRAS. 

Has  her  Sincerity,  the  princely  Lady  Tharmia, 
been  speaking  with  you  ? 

77 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

ICHTHAEION. 

She  spoke  a  few  words. 

[Ludibras  and  Harpagas  sigh.] 
We  must  leave  Thek.     We  must  depart  from 
Thek. 

LUDIBEAS. 

What,  without  the  King  ? 


No. 

ICHTHAEION. 

No.  They  would  say  in  Barbul-el-Sharnak 
"these  were  once  at  the  Court,"  and  men  that 
we  have  flogged  would  spit  in  our  faces. 

LUDIBEAS. 
Who  can  command  a  King  ? 

HAEPAGAS. 
Only  the  gods. 

LUDIBEAS. 

The  gods  ?  There  are  no  gods  now.  We  have 
been  civilised  over  three  thousand  years.  The 
gods  that  nursed  our  infancy  are  dead,  or  gone  to 
nurse  younger  nations. 

78 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

ICHTHARION. 

/  refuse  to  listen  to O,  the  sentries  are 

gone.    No,  the  gods  are  no  use  to  us ;  they  were 
driven  away  by  the  decadence. 

HARPAGAS. 

We  are  not  in  the  decadence  here.  Barbul-el- 
Sharnak  is  in  a  different  age.  The  city  of  Thek 
is  scarcely  civilised. 

ICHTHARION. 

But  everybody  lives  in  Barbul-el-Sharnak. 

HARPAGAS. 
The  gods    .     .     . 

LUDIBRAS. 

The  old  prophet  is  coming. 

HARPAGAS. 
He  believes  as  much  in  the  gods  as  you  or  I  do. 

LUDIBRAS. 

Yes,  but  we  must  not  speak  as  though  we 
knew  that. 

[  Voice-of -the- Gods  (a prophet)  walks 
across  the  stage.] 

ICHTHARION,  LUDIBRAS  AND  HARPAGAS. 

[Rising.] 
The  gods  are  good. 

79 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

They  are  benignant. 

[Exit.} 

ICHTHAEION. 

Listen  !  Let  him  prophesy  to  the  King.  Let 
him  bid  the  King  go  hence  lest  they  smite  the 
city. 

LUDIBKAS. 

Can  we  make  him  do  it  ? 


I  think  we  can  make  him  do  it. 

HAKPAGAS. 

The  King  is  more  highly  civilised  even  than  we 
are.  He  will  not  care  for  the  gods. 

ICHTHARION. 

He  cannot  ignore  them  ;  the  gods  crowned  his 
forefather  and  if  there  are  no  gods  who  made  him 
King? 

LUDIBRAS. 

Why,  that  is  true.     He  must  obey  a  prophecy. 

ICHTHAEION. 

If  the  King  disobeys  the  gods  the  people  will 
tear  him  asunder,  whether  the  gods  created  the 
people  or  the  people  created  the  gods. 

\Harpagas  slips  out  after  the  Prophet.] 
80 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

LUDIBKAS. 

If  the  King  discovers  this  we  shall  be  painfully 
tortured. 

ICHTHARIOtf. 

How  can  the  King  discover  it  ? 

LUDIBRAS. 

» 

He  knows  that  there  are  no  gods. 

ICHTHAKION. 

No  man  knows  that  of  a  certainty. 

LTJDIBRAS. 
But  if  there  are    .     .     .     ! 

[Enter  Prophet  with  Harpagas.    Ichthari^ 
quickly  sends  Ludibras  and  Harpaga* 
awayJ] 

ICHTHAEION. 
There  is  a  delicate  matter  concerning  the  King. 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

Then  I  can  help  you  little  for  I  only  serve  the 
gods. 

ICHTHAEION. 

It  also  concerns  the  gods. 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

Ah.    Then  I  hearken. 
81 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

ICHTHAKION. 

This  city  is  for  the  King,  whose  body  is  fragile, 
a  very  unhealthy  city.  Moreover,  there  is  no 
work  here  that  a  King  can  profitably  do.  Also  it 
is  dangerous  for  Barbul-el-Sharnak  to  be  long 
without  a  King,  lest  .  .  . 

VOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

Does  this  concern  the  gods  ? 

ICHTHAKION. 

In  this  respect  it  does  concern  the  gods — that  if 
the  gods  knew  this  they  would  warn  the  King  by 
inspiring  you  to  make  a  prophecy.  As  they  do 
not  know  this  .  . 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

The  gods  know  all  things. 

ICHTHARION. 

The  gods  do  not  know  things  that  are  not  true. 
This  is  not  strictly  true  .  .  . 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

It  is  written  and  hath  been  said  that  the  gods 
cannot  lie. 

ICHTHAKIOBT. 

The  gods  of  course  cannot  lie,  but  a  prophet 
may  sometimes  utter  a  prophecy  that  is  a  good 

82 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

prophecy  and  helpful  to  men,  thereby  pleasing 
the  gods,  although  the  prophecy  is  not  a  true  one. 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

The  gods  speak  through  my  mouth  ;  my  breath 
is  my  own  breath,  I  am  human  and  mortal,  but 
my  voice  is  from  the  gods  and  the  gods  cannot  lie. 

ICHTHARION. 

Is  it  wise  in  an  age  when  the  gods  have  lost 
their  power  to  anger  powerful  men  for  the  sake 
of  the  gods  ? 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

It  is  wise. 

ICHTHAEION. 

We  are  three  men  and  you  are  alone  with  us. 
Will  the  gods  save  you  if  we  want  to  put  you  to 
death  and  slip  away  with  your  body  into  the 
jungle  ? 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

If  you  should  do  this  thing  the  gods  have  willed 
it.  If  they  have  not  willed  it  you  cannot. 

ICHTHAKION. 

"We  do  not  wish  to  do  it.  Nevertheless  you 
will  make  this  prophecy — you  will  go  before  the 

83 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

King  and  you  will  say  that  the  gods  have  spoken 
and  that  within  three  days'  time,  for  the  sake  of 
vengeance  upon  some  unknown  man  who  is  in 
this  city,  they  will  overthrow  all  Thek  unless 
every  man  is  departed. 

VOICE-OF-THE-GOD8. 

I  will  not  do  it,  for  the  gods  cannot  lie. 

ICHTHARION. 

Has  it  not  been  the  custom  since  unremembered 
time  for  a  prophet  to  have  two  wives  ? 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

Most  certainly.     It  is  indeed  the  law. 

[Ichtharion  holds  up  three  fingers, ,] 
What! 

ICHTHARION. 
Three. 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

Do  not  betray  me.     It  was  long  ago. 

ICHTHARION. 

You  will  be  allowed  to  serve  the  gods  no  more 
/f  men  know  this.  The  gods  will  not  protect  you 
in  this  matter  for  you  have  offended  also  against 
the  gods. 

84 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

VOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

It  is  worse  that  the  gods  should  lie.    Do  not 
betray  me. 

ICHTHAKION. 

I  go  to  tell  the  others  what  I  know. 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

I  will  make  the  false  prophecy. 

ICHTHARION. 

Ah.     You  have  chosen  wisely. 

VOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

When  the  gods  punish  me  who  make  them  lie, 
they  will  know  what  punishment  to  give  to  you. 

ICHTHAKION. 

The  gods  will  not  punish  us.     It  is  long  ago 
that  the  gods  used  to  punish  men. 

YOICE-OF-THE-GOD8. 

The  gods  will  punish  us. 


CURTAIN 


85 


ACT  II. 

Same  scene.     Same  day. 

KING  KARNOS. 

[Pointing  off  L.] 

Look  at  them  now,  are  they  not  beautiful  ? 
They  catch  the  last  rays  of  the  lingering  sun. 
Can  you  say  that  the  orchids  are  not  beautiful 
now  ? 

ICHTHARION. 

Your  Majesty,  we  were  wrong,  they  are  most 
beautiful.  They  tower  up  from  the  jungle  to 
take  the  sun.  They  are  like  the  diadem  of  some 
jubilant  king. 

KING  KARNOS. 

Ah.  Now  you  have  come  to  love  the  beauty 
of  Thek. 

ICHTHARION. 

Yes,  yes,  your  Majesty,  I  see  it  now.  I  would 
live  in  this  city  always. 

KING  RARNOS. 

Yes,  we  will  live  here  always.  There  is  no  city 
lovelier  than  Thek.  Am  I  not  right  ? 

86 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

LUDIBRAS. 

Your  Majesty  is  right,  no  city  is  like  it. 

KING  KAEJSTOS. 
Ah.    I  am  always  right. 

THAEMIA. 
How  beautiful  is  Thek. 

AROUND. 
Yes,  it  is  like  a  god. 

[Three  notes  are  stricken  on  a 
sonorous  gongJ\ 

WHISPERS. 

[0».] 

There  has  been  a  prophecy.    There  has  been  a 
prophecy. 

KING  KARNOS. 

Ah !  there  has  been  a  prophecy.     Bring  in  the 
prophet. 

[Exit  Attendant] 

[Enter  mournfully  with  dejected  head  and 
walking  very  slowly  Voice-of-the-Gods.} 
You  have  made  a  prophecy. 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

I  have  made  a  prophecy. 

87 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

KING  KARNOS. 
I  would  hear  that  prophecy. 

[A  pause] 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

Your  Majesty,  the  gods  in  three  days1 
time  .  .  . 

KING  KARNOS. 

Stop !  Is  it  not  usual  to  begin  with  certain 
words  ? 

[ A  pause.} 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

It  is  written  and  hath  been  said  .  .  .  It  is 
written  and  hath  been  said  .  .  .  that  the 
gods  cannot  lie. 

KING  KARNOS. 
That  is  right. 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS- 

That  the  gods  cannot  lie. 

KING  KARNOS. 
Tes.    Yes. 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

In  three  days'  time  the  gods  will  destroy  this 
city  for  vengeance  upon  some  man,  unless  all  men 
desert  it. 

88 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

KING  KAENOS. 
The  gods  will  destroy  Thek  ! 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

Yes. 

KING  KAENOS. 
When  will  this  happen  ? 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

It  must  be  in  three  days'  time. 

KING  KAENOS. 
How  will  it  happen  ? 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

Why.     It  will  happen. 

KING  KAENOS. 
How? 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

Why  .  .  .  there  will  be  a  sound  .  .  . 
as  the  riving  of  wood  ...  a  sound  as  of 
thunder  coming  up  from  the  ground.  A  cleft 
will  run  like  a  mouse  across  the  floor.  There 
will  be  a  red  light,  and  then  no  light  at  all,  and 
in  the  darkness  Thek  shall  tumble  in. 

\The  King  sits  in  deep  thought^ 
89 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

[Exit  Prophet  slowly ;  he  begins  to  weep, 
then  casts  his  cloak  over  his  face.  He 
stretches  out  his  arms  to  grope  his  way 
and  is  led  away  by  the  hand.  The  King 
sits  thinking.] 

THAKMIA. 
Save  us,  your  Majesty. 

ABOUND. 
Save  us. 

ICHTHARION. 

We  must  fly,  your  Majesty. 

LUDIBRAS. 
We  must  escape  swiftly. 

[The  King  sits  still  in  silence.  He  lifts  a 
stick  on  his  right  to  beat  a  little  silver 
bell  /  but  puts  it  down  again.  At  last 
he  lifts  it  up  and  strikes  the  bell.] 

[An  Attendant  enters.] 

KING  KARNOS. 
Bring  back  that  prophet. 

[Attendant  bows  and  exit.] 

[The  King  loote  thoughtful.     The  rest  have 

a  frightened  look.     Reenter  Prophet.] 

When  the  gods  prophesy  rain  in  the  season  of 

90 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

rain,  or  the  death  of  an  old  man,  we  believe  them. 
But  when  the  gods  prophesy  something  incredible 
and  ridiculous,  such  as  happens  not  nowadays, 
and  hath  not  been  heard  of  since  the  fall  of  Bleth, 
then  our  credulity  is  overtaxed.  It  is  possible 
that  a  man  should  lie ;  it  is  not  possible  that  the 
gods  should  destroy  a  city  nowadays. 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

O  King,  have  mercy. 

KING  KAKNOS. 

What,  would  you  be  sent  safe  away  while  your 
King  is  destroyed  by  the  gods  ? 

VOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

No,  no,  your  Majesty.  I  would  stay  in  the 
city,  your  Majesty.  But  if  the  gods  do  not  des- 
troy the  city,  if  the  gods  have  misled  me  ? 

KING  KARNOS. 

If  the  gods  have  misled  you  they  have  chosen 
your  doom.  Why  ask  for  mercy  from  me  ? 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

If  the  gods  have  misled  me,  and  punish  me  no 
further,  I  ask  mercy  from  you,  O  King. 

91 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

KING  KARNOS. 

If  the  gods  have  misled  you,  let  the  gods  pro- 
tect you  from  my  executioner. 

IST  SENTRY. 

[Laughs — aside  to  2nd  Sentry. ,] 
Yery  witty. 

2ND  SENTRY. 

Yes,  yes. 

[Laughs  too.] 

KING  KAENOS. 

If  the  doom  fall  not  at  sunset  why  then  the 
executioner    .     .     . 

YOICE-OF-THE-GOD8. 

Your  Majesty ! 

KING  KARNOS. 

No  more !    No  doubt  the  gods  will  destroy  the 
city  at  sunset. 

[The  Sentries  titter.     The  Prophet  is 

led  away.] 
ICHTHARION. 

Your  Majesty !    Is  it  safe  to  kill  a  prophet, 
even  for  any  guilt  ?    Will  not  the  people    .     .    . 

KING  KARNOS. 

Not  while  he  is  a  prophet ;  but  if  he  has  prophe- 
sied falsely  his  death  is  due  to  the  gods.     The 

92 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

people  once  even  burned  a  prophet  themselves 
because  he  had  taken  three  wives. 

ICHTHAEION. 

[Aside  to  Ludibras.~\ 
It  is  most  unfortunate,  but  what  can  we  do  ? 

LUDIBEAS. 

[Aside  to  Ichtharion.~] 
He  will  not  be  killed  if  he  betray  us  instead. 

ICHTHAEION. 

[Aside.} 
"Why    .    .    .    that  is  true. 

[All  are  whispering.] 

KING  KAENOS. 
What  do  you  whisper  ? 

THAEMIA. 

Your  Majesty,  we  fear  that  the  gods  will  des- 
troy us  all  and    .    .    . 

KING  KAENOS. 
You  do  not  fear  it. 

[Dead  silence.'] 

[A  plaintive  lament  off.  Enter  the  Queen. 
Her  face  is  pale  as  paper. ,] 
93 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

QUEEN. 


0  your  Majesty.     Your  Majesty.     I  have  heard 
the  lutanist,  I  have  heard  the  lutanist. 

KING  KARNOS. 

She  means  the  lute  that  is  heard  by  those  about 
to  die. 

QUEEN. 

1  have  heard  Gog-Owza,  the  lutanist,  playing 
his  lute.    And  I  shall  die,  O  I  shall  die. 

KING  KARNOS. 

No.  No.  No.  You  have  not  heard  Gog-Owza. 
Send  for  her  maidens,  send  for  the  Queen's  maid- 
ens. 

QUEEN. 
I  have  heard  Gog-O\vza  playing,  and  I  shall  die. 

KING  KARNOS. 

Hark.  Why,  I  hear  it  too.  That  is  not  Gog- 
Owza,  it  is  only  a  man  with  a  lute  ;  I  hear  it  too. 

QUEEN. 

O  the  King  hears  it  too.  The  King  will  die. 
The  great  King  will  die.  My  child  will  be  deso- 
late for  the  King  will  die.  Mourn,  people  of  the 

94 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

jungle.  Mourn,  citizens  of  Thek.  And  thou,  0 
Barbul-el-Sharnak,  O  metropolitan  city,  mourn 
thou  in  the  midst  of  the  nations,  for  the  great 
King  will  die. 

KING  KARNOS. 

No.    No.    No.    [To  oldest  present.]    Listen  you. 
Do  you  not  hear  it  ? 

Yes,  your  Majesty. 

KING  KAKNOS. 

You  see  it  is  a  real  lute.     That  is  no  spirit 
playing. 

QUEEN. 

0  but  he  is  old ;  in  a  few  days  he  will  die ;  it  is 
Gog-Owza,  and  the  King  will  die. 

KING  KAKNOS. 

No,  no,  it  is  only  a  man.    Look  out  of  the 
window  there. 

[To  any  Young  Man.~\ 

It  is  dark,  your  Majesty,  and  I  cannot  see. 

QUEEN. 
It  is  the  spirit  Gog-Owza. 

1  can  hear  the  music  clearly. 

95 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

KING  KARNOS 
He  is  young. 

QUEEN. 

The  young  are  always  in  danger;  they  go  about 
among  swords.  He  will  die  too  and  the  great 
King  and  I.  In  a  few  days  we  will  be  buried. 

KING  KAKNOS. 

Let  us  all  listen;  we  cannot  all  die  in  a  few 
days'  time. 

THAKMIA. 
I  hear  it  clearly. 

QUEEN. 

Women  are  blossoms  in  the  hand  of  Death. 
They  are  often  close  to  Death.  She  will  die  too. 

ALL. 

I  hear  it.  I  hear  it.  And  I.  And  I.  And  I. 
It  is  only  a  man  with  a  lute. 

QUEEN. 

[Pacified.'] 

I  should  like  to  see  him,  then  I  should  know 
for  certain.  [She  looks  out  of  the  casement.]  No 
it  is  too  dark. 

KING  KARNOS. 

We  will  call  the  man  if  you  wish  it. 
96 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

QUEEN. 

Yes,  I  shall  be  easy  then,  and  then  I  shall  sleep. 
[King  instructs  Attendants  to  enquire  with- 
out.    Queen  at  window  still.] 

KING  KAENOS. 

It  is  some  man  down  by  the  river  playing  his 
lute.  I  am  told  that  sometimes  a  man  will  play 
all  night. 

THAEMIA. 

[Aside.'] 
That's  their  amusement  here. 

AROUND. 

[Aside.] 
Well,  really,  it's  almost  all  the  music  we  get. 

THAEMIA. 

[Aside.] 
It  really  is. 

AEOLIND. 

[Aside.] 

O  how  I  cry  for  the  golden  Hall  of  Song  in 
Barbul-el-Sharnak.  I  think  it  would  almost  hold 
the  city  of  Thek. 

[Reenter  Attendant.] 
97 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

ATTENDANT. 

It  is  only  a  common  lute,  your  Majesty.  All 
hear  it  except  one  man. 

KING  KAENOS. 

All  except  one,  did  you  say  ?  Ah,  thank  you. 
[To  Queen  at  window  I\  It  is  only  a  common  lute. 

QUEEN. 

One  man  did  not  hear  it.  Who  was  he? 
Where  is  he  ?  Why  didn't  he  ? 

ATTENDANT. 

He  was  riding  back  again  to  Barbul-el-lShar- 
nak.  He  was  just  starting.  He  said  he  did  not 
hear  it. 

QUEEN. 
Oh,  send  for  him  here. 

ATTENDANT. 
He  is  gone,  your  Majesty. 

QUEEN. 
Overtake  him  quick.     Overtake  him. 

[Exit  Attendant.'] 

THARMIA. 

[Aside  to  Arolind.] 

I  wish  that  I  were  going  to  Barbul-el-Sharnak. 
98 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

ABOUND. 
O  to  be  back  again  at  the  centre  of  the  world ! 

THABMIA. 
"Were  we  not  talking  of  the  golden  hall  ? 

ABOUND. 

Ah,  yes.  How  lovely  it  was !  How  beautiful 
it  was  when  the  King  was  there  and  strange  mu- 
sicians came  from  the  heathen  lands  with  huge 
plumes  in  their  hair,  and  played  on  instruments 
that  we  did  not  know. 

THABMIA. 

The  Queen  was  better  then.  The  music  eased 
her. 

ABOUND. 
This  lute  player  is  making  her  quite  mad. 

THABMIA. 

Well.  Well.  No  wonder.  He  has  a  mourn- 
ful sound.  Listen ! 

ABOUND. 
Do  not  let  us  listen.     It  makes  me  feel  cold. 

THABMIA. 

He  cannot  play  like  Nagra  or  dear  Trehannion. 
It  is  because  we  have  heard  Trehannion  that  we 
do  not  like  to  listen. 

99 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

AKOLIND. 
I  do  not  like  to  listen  because  I  feel  cold. 

THARMIA. 

"We  feel  cold  because  the  Queen  has  opened  the 
casement.  [To  Attendant.]  Find  the  man  that 
is  playing  the  lute  and  give  him  this  and  let  him 
cease  to  play  upon  his  lute. 

[Exit  Attendant.] 

ICHTHAKION. 

Hark !    He  is  playing  still. 

KING  KAKNOS. 

Yes,  we  all  hear  him :  it  is  only  a  man.  [To 
another  or  same  Attendant.]  Let  him  stop  play- 
ing. 

ATTENDANT. 
Yes,  your  Majesty. 

[JEW*.] 

[Enter  an  Attendant  with  another.] 

ATTENDANT. 
This  is  the  man  that  does  not  hear  the  lute. 

KING  KAKNOS. 

Ah.    You  are  deaf,  are  you  not  ? 
100 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

MAN. 
No,  your  Majesty. 

KING  KARNOS. 

You  hear  me  clearly  ? 

MAN. 
Yes,  your  Majesty. 

KING  KARNOS. 
Listen! 

*  *  * 

Now  you  hear  the  lute  ? 

MAN. 
No,  your  Majesty. 

KING  KARNOS. 
Who  sent  you  to  Barbul-el-Sharnak  ? 

MAN. 

The  captain  of  the  camel-guard  sent  me,  your 
Majesty. 

KING  KARNOS. 

Then  go  and  never  return.     You  are  deaf  and 

also  a  fool.     [ To  himself.]     The  Queen  will  not 

sleep.     \To  another^     Bring  music,  bring  music 

quickly.    [Muttering.']    The  Queen  will  not  sleep. 

101 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

[The  man  bows  low  and  departs.  He  says 
farewell  to  a  sentry.  The  Queen  leans 
from  the  casement  muttering.  Music 
heard  off.~\ 

QUEEN. 

Ah,  that  is  earthly  music,  but  of  that  other  tune 
I  have  a  fear. 

KING  KARNOS. 

"We  have  all  heard  it.  Comfort  yourself.  Calm 
yourself. 

QUEEN. 
One  man  does  not  hear  it. 

KING  KABHOS. 
But  he  has  gone  away.     We  all  hear  it  now. 

[Enter  Attendant.] 

QUEEN. 
I  wish  that  I  could  see  him. 

KING  KAENOS. 

A  man  is  a  small  thing  and  the  night  is  very 
large  and  full  of  wonders.  You  may  well  not 
see  him. 

QUEEN. 

I  should  like  to  see  him..  Why  cannot  I  see 
him? 

102 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

KING  KARNOS. 

I  have  sent  the  camel-guard  to  search  for 
him  and  to  stop  him  playing  his  lute.  [ To  Ich~ 
tharionJ]  Do  not  let  the  Queen  know  about  this 
prophecy.  She  would  think  ...  I  do  not 
know  what  she  would  think. 

ICHTHARION. 

No,  your  Majesty. 

KING  KARNOS. 
The  Queen  has  a  very  special  fear  of  the  gods. 

ICHTHARION. 

Yes,  your  Majesty. 

QUEEN. 
You  speak  of  me  ? 

KING  KARNOS. 
O  no.    "We  speak  of  the  gods. 

[The  earthly  music  ceases, 

QUEEN. 

O  do  not  speak  of  the  gods.  The  gods  are  very 
terrible;  all  the  dooms  that  shall  ever  be  come 
forth  from  the  gods.  In  misty  windings  of  the 
wandering  hills  they  forge  the  future  even  as  on 
an  anvil.  The  future  frightens  me. 
103 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

KING  KARNOS. 

Call  the  Queen's  maidens.  Send  quickly  for 
her  maidens.  Do  not  let  the  future  frighten 
you. 

QUEEN. 

Men  laugh  at  the  gods ;  they  often  laugh  at  the 
gods.  I  am  more  sure  that  the  gods  laugh  too. 
It  is  dreadful  to  think  of  the  laughter  of  the  gods. 
O  the  lute!  the  lute!  How  clearly  I  hear  the 
lute.  But  you  all  hear  it.  Do  you  not?  You 
swear  that  you  all  hear  it. 

KING  KAKNOS. 

Yes,  yes.  We  all  hear  the  lute.  It  is  only  a 
man  playing. 

QUEEN. 

I  wish  I  could  see  him.  Then  I  should  know 
that  he  was  only  a  man  and  not  Gog-Owza,  most 
terrible  of  the  gods.  I  should  be  able  to  sleep 
then. 

KING  KARNOS. 

[Soothingly.] 
Yes,  yes. 

[Enter  Attendant.} 

Here  comes  the  man  that  I  have  sent  to  find 
104 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

him.     You  have  found  the  lute  player.     Tell  the 
Queen  that  you  have  found  the  lute  player. 

ATTENDANT. 

The  camel-guard  have  sought,  your  Majesty, 
and  cannot  find  any  man  that  is  playing  a  lute. 


CUKTAlir. 


105 


ACT  III 

Three  days  elapse. 

THARMIA. 

We  have  done  too  much.  We  have  done  too 
much.  Our  husbands  will  be  put  to  death.  The 
Prophet  will  betray  them  and  they  will  be  put  to 
death. 

ABOUND. 
O  what  shall  we  do  ? 

THARMIA. 

It  would  have  been  better  for  us  to  be  clothed 
with  rags  than  to  bring  our  husbands  to  death  by 
what  we  have  done. 

AROUND. 

We  have  done  too  much  and  we  have  angered 
a  king,  and  (who  knows  ?)  we  may  have  angered 
even  the  gods. 

THARMIA. 

Even  the  gods!    We  are  become  like  Helen. 
When  my  mother  was  a  child  she  saw  her  once. 
She  says  she  was  the  quietest  and  gentlest  of 
106 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

creatures  and  only  wished  to  be  loved,  and  yet 
because  of  her  there  was  a  war  for  four  or  five 
years  at  Troy,  and  the  city  was  burned  which  had 
remarkable  towers ;  and  some  of  the  gods  of  the 
Greeks  took  her  side,  my  mother  says,  and  some 
she  says  were  against  her,  and  they  quarrelled 
upon  Olympus  where  they  live,  and  all  because  of 
Helen. 

AKOLIND. 

0  don't,  don't.     It  frightens  me.     I  only  want 
to  be  prettily  dressed  and  see  my  husband  happy. 

THAKMIA. 
Have  you  seen  the  Prophet  ? 

AROUND. 

Oh,  yes,  I  have  seen  him.     He  walks  about  the 
palace.    He  is  free  but  he  cannot  escape. 

THAKMIA. 

What  does  he  look  like  ?    Has  he  a  frightened 
look? 

AROLIKD. 

He  mutters  as  he  walks.     Sometimes  he  weeps ; 
and  then  he  puts  his  cloak  over  his  face. 

THAKMIA. 

1  fear  that  he  will  betray  them. 

107 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

AROUND. 

I  do  not  trust  a  prophet.  He  is  the  go-between 
of  gods  and  men.  They  are  so  far  apart.  How 
can  he  be  true  to  both  ? 

THARMIA. 

This  Prophet  is  false  to  the  gods.  It  is  a  hate- 
ful thing  for  a  prophet  to  prophesy  falsely. 

[Prophet  walks  across  hanging  his  head 

and  muttering.'] 

PROPHET. 

The  gods  have  spoken  a  lie.  The  gods  have 
spoken  a  lie.  Can  all  their  vengeance  ever  atone 
for  this  ? 

THARMIA. 
He  spoke  of  vengeance. 

AROLIND. 
O  he  will  betray  them. 

{They  weep.     Enter  Queen."] 

QUEEN. 

"Why  do  you  weep  ?  Ah,  you  are  going  to  die. 
You  heard  the  death-lute.  You  do  well  to  weep. 

THARMIA. 

No,  your  Majesty.     It  is  the  man  that  has 
played  for  the  last  three  days.     "We  all  heard  him. 
108 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

QUEEN. 

Three  days.  Yes,  yes,  it  is  three  days.  Gog- 
Owza  plays  no  longer  than  three  days.  Gog- 
Ovvza  grows  weary  then.  He  has  given  his  mes- 
sage and  he  will  go  away. 

THAEMIA. 

We  have  all  heard  him,  your  Majesty,  except 
the  deaf  young  man  that  went  back  to  Barbul-el- 
Sharnak.  We  hear  him  now. 

QUEEN. 

Yes !  But  nobody  has  seen  him  yet.  My  maid- 
ens have  searched  for  him  but  they  have  not  found 
him. 

THAKMIA. 

Your  Majesty,  my  husband  heard  him,  and 
Ludibras,  and  while  they  live  we  know  there  is 
nothing  to  fear.  If  the  King  grew  angry  with 
them — because  of  any  idle  story  that  some  jealous 
man  might  tell — some  criminal  wishing  to  post- 
pone his  punishment — if  the  King  were  to  grow 
angry  with  them  they  would  open  their  veins; 
they  would  never  survive  his  anger.  Then  we 
should  all  of  us  say,  "Perhaps  it  was  Gog-Owza 
that  Ichtharion  or  Ludibras  heard." 
109 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

QUEEN. 

The  King  will  never  grow  angry   with   Ich- 
tharion  or  Ludibras. 

THAEMIA. 

Your  Majesty  would  not  sleep  if  the  King  grew 
angry  with  them. 

QUEEN. 

Oh,  no.    I  should  not  sleep  ;  it  would  be  ter- 
rible. 

THAEMIA. 

Your  Majesty  would  be  wakeful  all  night  long 
and  cry. 

QUEEN. 

Oh,  yes.    I  should  not  sleep  ;  I  should  cry  all 
night. 


AEOLIND. 
She  has  no  influence  with  the  King. 

THAEMIA. 
No.     But  he  hates  to  hear  her  cry  all  night. 

[Enter  Ichtharion.] 

I  am  sure  that  that  Prophet  will  betray  you. 
But  we  have  spoken  to  the  Queen,     We  have  told 
110 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

her  it  would  be  dreadful  if  the  King  were  angry 
with  you,  and  she  thinks  she  will  cry  all  night  if 
he  is  angry. 

ICHTHAKION. 

Poor  frightened  brain !  How  strong  are  little 
fancies !  She  should  be  a  beautiful  Queen.  But 
she  goes  about  white  and  crying,  in  fear  of  the 
gods.  The  gods,  that  are  no  more  than  shadows 
in  the  moonlight.  Man's  fear  rises  weird  and 
large  in  all  this  mystery  and  makes  a  shadow  of 
himself  upon  the  ground  and  Man  jumps  and  says 
"  the  gods."  Why,  they  are  less  than  shadows  ; 
we  have  seen  shadows;  we  have  not  seen  the 
gods. 

THARMIA. 

O  do  not  speak  like  that.  There  used  to  be 
gods.  They  overthrew  Bleth  dreadfully.  And 
if  they  still  live  on  in  the  dark  of  the  hills,  why ! 
they  might  hear  your  words. 

ICHTHARION. 

Why!  you  grow  frightened,  too.  Do  not  be 
frightened.  We  will  go  and  speak  with  the 
Prophet,  while  you  follow  the  Queen;  be  much 
with  her,  and  do  not  let  her  forget  that  she  will 
cry  if  the  King  should  be  angry  with  us. 
Ill 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

AROLIKD. 

I  am  almost  afraid  when  I  am  with  the  Queen  ? 
I  do  not  like  to  be  with  her. 

THARMIA. 

She  could  not  hurt  us ;  she  is  afraid  of  all 
things. 

AROLIND. 

She  makes  me  have  huge  fears  of  prodigious 
things. 

[Exeunt  Tkarmia  and  ArolindJ] 
[Enter  LudibrasJ] 

LUDIBEAS. 
The  Prophet  is  coming  this  way. 

ICHTHARION. 

Sit  down.    "We  must  speak  with  him.    He  will 
betray  us. 

LUDIBRAS. 
Why  should  the  Prophet  betray  us  ? 

ICHTHARION. 

Because  the  guilt  of  the  false  prophecy  is  not 
his  guilt;  it  is  ours;  and  the  King  may  spare  him 
if  he  tells  him  that.    Again,  he  mutters  of  venge- 
ance as  he  walks;  many  have  told  me. 
112 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

LtJDIBEAS. 

The  King  will  not  spare  him  even  if  he  betrays 
us.  It  was  he  that  spoke  the  false  prophecy  to 
the  King. 

ICHTHAEION. 

The  King  does  not  in  his  heart  believe  in  the 
gods.  It  is  for  cheating  him  that  the  Prophet  is 
to  die.  But  if  he  knows  we  had  planned  it  ... 

LUDIBEAS. 
What  can  we  say  to  the  Prophet  ? 

ICHTHAEION. 

Why,  we  can  say  nothing.  But  we  can  learn 
what  he  will  do  from  what  he  says  to  us. 

LUDIBEAS. 

Here  he  is.  We  must  remember  everything 
that  he  says. 

ICHTHAEION. 

Watch  his  eyes. 

[Enter  the  Prophet,  his  eyes  concealed  by 

his  cloak.'} 

ICHTHAEION  AND  LUDIBEAS. 

The  gods  are  good. 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

They  are  benignant. 

113 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

ICHTHARION. 

I  am  much  to  blame.  I  am  very  much  to 
blame. 

LUDIBRAS. 
We  trust  that  the  King  will  relent. 

ICHTHARION. 

He  often  relents  at  sunset;  he  looks  out  over 
the  orchids  in  the  evening.  They  are  very  beau- 
tiful then,  and  if  he  is  angry  his  anger  passes 
away  just  when  the  cool  breeze  comes  at  the  set 
of  sun. 

LUDIBRAS. 
He  is  sure  to  relent  at  sunset. 

ICHTHARION. 

Do  not  be  angry.  I  am  indeed  to  blame.  Do 
not  be  angry. 

VOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

I  do  not  wish  the  King  to  relent  at  sunset. 

ICHTHARION. 

Do  not  be  angry. 

YOIOE-OF-THE-GODS. 

It  hath  been  said  of  old  that  the  gods  cannot 
lie.      It  is  written  and  hath  been  said.     I  have 
114 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

plotted  with  you  and  I  have  made  them  lie,  foi 
my  voice  is  the  voice  of  the  gods. 

LUDIBEAS. 
We  hope  that  the  King  will  pardon  you. 

VOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

I  wish  to  die. 

ICHTHARION. 

No,  no,  we  will  pray  the  King  to  pardon  you. 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

I  wish  to  die. 

LUDIBRAS. 

No,  no. 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

Because  of  me  the  holy  gods  have  lied;  they 
that  have  spoken  sooth  through  a  thousand  proph- 
ets. Because  of  me  they  have  lied.  They  will 
be  proudly  silent  for  evermore  and  inspire  no 
prophet  again,  and  the  nations  will  wander 
blindly  and  fall  unwarned  to  their  doom,  or 
stray  away  and  be  lost  in  unchronicled  time.  Or 
though  they  should  speak  again  yet  how  shall 
Man  believe  them  ?  I  have  brought  a  bane  upon 
the  generations  that  have  not  yet  known  the 
world. 

115 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

ICHTHAEION. 

No.     No.     Do  not  say  that. 

VOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

And  my  name  shall  be  a  curse  upon  the  lips  of 
many  nations  crowding  to  their  doom. 

ICHTHAEION. 

Do  not  be  unhappy.  All  men  must  die,  but  to 
die  unhappy  .  .  . 

VOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

I  have  betrayed  the  gods  who  spake  by  me  I 

ICHTHAEION. 
Do  not  be  unhappy. 

VOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

I  say  to  you  that  I  have  betrayed  the  gods. 

ICHTHAEION. 

Listen  to  me.  Do  not  be  so  unhappy.  There 
are  no  gods.  Everybody  knows  that  there  are  no 
gods.  The  King  knows  it. 

YOICE-OF-THE-GOD8. 

You  have  heard  their  Prophet  lie  and  believe 
that  the  gods  are  dead. 

116 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

LUDIBKAS. 

There  are  indeed  no  gods.     It  is  well  known. 

VOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

There  are  gods,  and  they  have  a  vengeance 
even  for  you.  Listen  and  I  will  tell  you  what  it 
shall  be.  Aye  and  for  you  also  .  .  .  Listen ! 
.  .  .  No,  no,  they  are  silent  in  the  gloom  of 
the  hills.  They  have  not  spoken  to  me  since  I 
lied. 

ICHTHAEION. 

You  are  right ;  the  gods  will  punish  us.  It  is 
natural  that  they  should  not  speak  just  now  ;  but 
they  will  certainly  punish  us.  It  is  not  therefore 
necessary  for  any  man  to  avenge  himself  upon  us, 
even  though  there  were  any  cause. 

VOICE- OF-THE-GODS. 

It  is  not  necessary. 

ICHTHARION. 

Indeed,  it  might  even  further  anger  the  gods  if 
a  man  should  be  before  them  to  punish  us. 

VOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

The  gods  are  very  swift ;  no  man  outruns  them. 

LUDIBKAS. 

A  man  would  be  rash  to  attempt  to. 
117 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

The  sun  is  falling  low.  I  will  leave  you  now, 
for  I  have  ever  loved  the  sun  at  evening.  I  go  to 
watch  it  drop  through  the  gilded  clouds,  and  make 
a  wonder  of  familiar  things.  After  the  sunset, 
night,  and  after  an  evil  deed,  the  vengeance  of  the 
gods. 

[Exit  E.] 

LUDIBKAS. 

He  really  believes  in  the  gods. 

ICHTHAKION. 

He  is  as  mad  as  the  Queen ;  we  must  humour  his 
madness  if  we  ever  see  him  more.  I  think  that 
all  will  be  well. 

\An  executioner  steals  after  the  Prophet ;  he 
is  dressed  in  crimson  satin  to  the  knees  ; 
he  wears  a  leather  belt  and  carries  the 
axe  of  his  trade.'} 

LTJDIBKAS. 

His  voice  was  angry  as  he  went  away.  I  feai 
he  may  yet  betray  us. 

ICHTHARION. 

It  is  not  likely.  He  thinks  that  the  gods  will 
punish  us. 

118 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

LUDIBRAS. 

How  long  will  he  think  so?  The  Queen's 
fancies  change  thrice  an  hour. 

ICHTHAEION. 

The  executioner  keeps  very  close  to  him  now. 
He  comes  closer  every  hour.  There  is  not  much 
time  for  him  to  change  his  fancies. 

LUDIBRAS. 

He  has  the  will  to  betray  us  if  that  fancy  leaves 
him. 

ICHTHARION. 

The  executioner  is  very  eager  for  him.  He  in- 
vented a  new  stroke  lately,  but  he  has  not  had  a 
man  since  we  came  to  Thek. 

LUDIBRAS. 

I  do  not  like  an  eager  executioner — the  King 
sees  him  and  it  makes  him  think  .  .  . 

ICHTHARION. 

Look  how  low  the  sun  is;  he  has  no  time  to 
betray  us.  The  King  is  not  yet  here. 

LUDIBRAS. 
He  is  coming. 

ICHTHARION. 

But  the  Prophet  is  not  here. 
110 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

LUDIBEAS. 

No,  he  is  not  yet  come. 

{Enter  the  King.} 

KING  KAENOS. 

The  Queen's  maidens  have  persuaded  her  that 
there  is  nothing  to  fear.  They  are  quite  ex- 
cellent ;  they  shall  dance  before  me.  The  Queen 
will  sleep ;  they  are  quite  excellent.  Ah,  Ich- 
tharion. Come  to  me,  Ichtharion. 

LUDIBEAS. 
Why  does  the  King  send  for  you  ? 

KING  KABNOS. 
You  were  wrong,  Ichtharion. 

ICHTHAEION. 

Your  Majesty ! 

\Ludibras  watches.] 

KING  KAENOS. 

You  were  wrong  to  think  that  Thek  is  not  very 
lovely. 

ICHTHAEION. 

Yes,  I  was  wrong  and  I  am  much  to  blame. 

KING  KAENOS. 

Yes,   it  is  very  beautiful  at  evening.     I  will 
watch  the  sun  go  down  over  the  orchids.     I  will 
120 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

never  see  Barbul-el-Sharnak  any  more.  I  will  sit 
and  watch  the  sun  go  down  on  the  orchids  till  it 
is  gone  and  all  their  colours  fade. 

ICHTHAKION. 

It  is  very  beautiful  now.  How  still  it  is!  I 
have  never  seen  so  still  a  sunset  before. 

KING  KARNOS. 

It  is  like  a  picture  done  by  a  dying  painter, 
full  of  a  beautiful  colour.  Even  if  all  these 
orchids  died  to-night  yet  their  beauty  is  an  in- 
destructible memory. 

LUDLBRAS. 

[Aside  to  Ichtharion.] 
The  Prophet  is  coming  this  way. 

ICHTHARION. 

Your  Majesty,  the  Prophet  walks  about  the 
palace,  and  the  executioner  is  close  behind  him. 
If  the  Queen  saw  him  and  the  executioner  would 
it  not  trouble  her?  Were  it  not  better  that  he 
be  killed  at  once  ?  Shall  I  whistle  now  to  the 
executioner  ? 

KING  KARNOS. 
Not  now.     I  said  at  sunset. 
121 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

ICHTHAKION. 

Your  Majesty,  it  is  merciful  to  kill  a  man  before 
the  set  of  sun.  For  it  is  natural  in  a  man  to  love 
the  sun.  But  to  see  it  set  and  to  know  that  it 
will  not  come  again  is  even  a  second  death.  It 
would  be  merciful  to  kill  him  now. 

KING  KAKNOS. 

I  have  said — at  sunset.  It  were  unjust  to  kill 
him  before  his  prophecy  is  proven  false. 

ICHTHAEION. 

But,  your  Majesty,  we  know  that  it  is  false. 
He  also  knows  it. 

KING  KAKNOS. 
He  shall  die  at  sunset. 

LUDIBRAS. 

Your  Majesty,  the  Prophet  will  pray  for  life 
if  he  is  not  killed  now.  It  would  be  a  pity  to 
grant  it. 

KING  KARNOS. 

Is  not  a  king's  word  death?  I  have  said  he 
shall  die  at  sunset. 

[Enter  Prophet.     The  Executioner  creeps 
along  close  behind  him.} 
122 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

O  the  gods  are  about  to  have  lied.  The  gods 
will  have  lied.  I  have  prophesied  falsely  and  the 
gods  will  have  lied.  My  death  cannot  atone  for 
it  nor  the  punishment  of  others. 

[Icfitharion  and  Ludibras  start.~\ 

ICHTHAKION. 

He  will  betray  us  yet. 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

O  why  did  you  let  your  voice  come  through 
toy  lips?  O  why  did  you  allow  your  voice  to 
lie  ?  For  centuries  it  has  been  said  from  city  to 
city  "The  gods  cannot  lie."  The  nomads  have 
known  it  out  upon  the  plains.  The  mountaineers 
have  known  it  near  the  dawn.  That  is  all  over 
now.  0  King,  let  me  die  at  once.  For  I  have 
prophesied  falsely  and  at  sunset  the  gods  will  lie. 

KING  KARNOS. 

It  is  not  sunset  yet.  No  doubt  you  have 
spoken  truly. 

[Enter  QueenJ] 

How  well  the  Queen  looks.  Her  maidens  are 
quite  excellent. 

123 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

LUDIBKAS. 

[ To  Ichtharion.] 

There  is  something  a  little  dreadful  in  seeing 
the  Queen  so  calm.  She  is  like  a  windless  sunset 
in  the  Winter  before  a  hurricane  comes  and  the 
snow  swirls  up  before  it  over  the  world. 

ICHTHARION. 

I  do  not  like  calm  sunsets ;  they  make  me  think 
that  something  is  going  to  happen.  Yes,  the 
Queen  is  very  quiet ;  she  will  sleep  to-night. 

QUEEN. 

I  am  not  frightened  any  longer.  All  the  wild 
fancies  of  my  brain  have  left  it.  I  have  often 
troubled  you  with  little  fears.  Now  they  are  all 
at  rest  and  I  am  afraid  no  longer. 

KING  KARNOS. 

That  is  good  ;  I  am  very  glad.  You  will  sleep 
to-night. 

QUEEN. 

Sleep.  Why — yes,  I  shall  sleep.  O  yes,  we 
shall  all  sleep. 

KING  KARNOS. 

Your  maidens  have  told  you  that  there  is  noth- 
ing to  fear. 

124 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

QUEEN. 

Nothing  to  fear  ?  No,  no  more  little  fears  to 
trouble  me. 

KING  KARNOS. 

They  have  told  you  there  is  nothing  at  all  to 
fear.  Indeed  there  is  nothing. 

QUEEN. 
No  more  little  fears.    There  is  one  great  fear. 

KING  KARNOS. 
A  great  fear !    Why,  what  is  it  ? 

QUEEN. 

I  must  not  say.  For  you  have  often  soothed  me 
when  I  was  frightened,  and  it  were  not  well  for 
me  to  trouble  you  at  the  last. 

KING  KAKNOS. 

What  is  your  fear  ?  Shall  I  send  again  for  your 
maidens  ? 

QUEEN. 

No,  it  is  not  my  fear.  It  is  all  men's  fear  if 
they  knew. 

KING  KAKNOS. 

[Glancing  round.'] 

Ah,  you  have  seen  my  man  in  red.  I  will  send 
him  away.  I  will. 

125 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

QUEEN. 

No,  no.  My  fear  is  not  earthly.  I  am  not 
afraid  of  little  things  any  more. 

KING  KARNOS. 
Why,  what  is  it  then  ? 

QUEEN. 

I  do  not  quite  know.  But  you  know  how  I 
have  ever  feared  the  gods.  The  gods  are  going 
to  do  some  dreadful  thing. 

KING  KARNOS. 
Believe  me ;  the  gods  do  nothing  nowadays. 

QUEEN. 

You  have  indeed  been  very  good  to  me.  It 
seems  a  little  while  since  the  camels  came  to  Ar- 
gun-Zeerith  by  the  iris  marshes,  the  camels  with 
the  gold-hung  palanquin,  and  the  bells  above  their 
heads,  high  up  in  air,  the  silver  bridal  bells.  It 
seems  a  very  little  while  ago.  I  did  not  know  how 
swift  the  end  would  come. 

KING  KARNOS. 
What  end  ?    To  whom  is  the  end  coming  ? 

QUEEN. 

Do  not  be  troubled.  We  should  not  let  Fate 
trouble  us.  The  World  and  its  daily  cares,  ah, 

126 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

they  are  frightful:   but  Fate— I  smile  at  Fate. 
Fate  cannot  hurt  us  if  we  smile  at  it. 

KING  KAENOS. 
What  end  do  you  say  is  coming  ? 

QUEEN. 

I  do  not  know.  Something  that  has  been  shall 
soon  be  no  more. 

KING  KAENOS. 

No,  no.  Look  upon  Thek.  It  is  built  of  rock 
and  our  palace  is  all  of  marble.  Time  has  not 
scratched  it  with  six  centuries.  Six  tearing  cen- 
turies with  all  their  claws.  We  are  throned  on 
gold  and  founded  upon  marble.  Death  will  some 
day  find  me,  indeed,  but  I  am  young.  Sire  after 
sire  of  mine  has  died  in  Barbul-el-Sharnak  or  in 
Thek,  but  has  left  our  dynasty  laughing  sheer  in 
the  face  of  Time  from  over  these  age-old  walls. 

QUEEN. 
Say  farewell  to  me  now,  lest  something  happen. 

KING  KAENOS. 
No,  no,  we  will  not  say  unhappy  things. 

EXECUTIONEB. 

The  sun  has  set. 

127 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

KING  KAKNOS. 

Not  yet.  The  jungle  hides  it.  It  is  not  yet 
set.  Look  at  the  beautiful  light  upon  the  orchids. 
For  how  long  they  have  flashed  their  purple  on 
the  gleaming  walls  of  Thek.  For  how  long  they 
will  flash  there  on  our  immortal  palace,  immortal 
in  marble  and  immortal  in  song.  Ah,  how  the 
colour  changes.  [To  the  Executioner. ~\  The  sun 
is  set.  Take  him  away.  [To  the  Queen.}  It  is 
he  whose  end  you  foresaw. 

[The  Executioner  grips  the  Prophet  by 

the  arm.] 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

The  gods  have  lied  ! 

KING  KAKNOS. 

The  jungle  is  sinking !  It  has  fallen  into  the 
earth! 

[The  Queen  smiles  a  little,  holding 

his  handJ] 

The  city  is  falling  in  !  The  houses  are  rolling 
towards  us ! 

[Thunder  of.} 

ICHTHARION. 

They  are  coming  up  like  a  wave  and  a  darkness 
is  coming  with  them. 

128 


The  Laughter  of  the  Gods 

[Loud  and  prolonged  thunder.  Flashes  of 
red  light  and  then  total  darkness.  A 
little  light  comes  back,  showing  re- 
cumbent figures,  shattered  pillars  and 
rocks  of  white  marble.  The  Prophet's 
~back  is  broken,  but  he  raises  the  fore- 
part of  his  body  for  a  moment.'] 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

[Triumphantly.] 
They  have  not  lied  ! 

ICHTHAKION. 

O,  I  am  killed. 

[Laughter  heard  off.] 

Some  one  is  laughing.     Laughing  even  in  Thek ! 
Why,  the  whole  city  is  shattered. 

[The  laughter  grows  demoniac.] 
What  is  that  dreadful  sound  ? 

YOICE-OF-THE-GODS. 

It  is  the  laughter  of  the  gods  that  cannot  lie, 
going  back  to  their  hills. 

[He  dies.] 


CURTAIN. 
129 


The  Queen's  Enemies 


The  Queen's  Enemies 


DRAMATIS  PERSONS 

THE  QUEEN. 

ACKAZARPSES,  her  handmaid. 

PRINCE  RHADAMANDASPES. 

PRINCE  ZOPHERNES. 

THE  PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 

THE  KING  or  THE  FOUR  COUNTRIES* 

THE  TWIN  DUKES  OF  ETHIOPIA. 

THARNI 


THARRABAS 


Slaves. 


HARLEE 

SLAVES. 

SCENE  : — -An  underground  temple  in 
Egypt. 

TIME: — The  Sixth  Dynasty. 


The  Queen's  Enemies 


[The  stage  is  in  two  parts.  Right — a  stair- 
case descending  to  a  door.  Left — an 
underground  temple  into  which  the  door 
opens.~\ 

[The  Curtain  rises  on  darkness  in  both 
parts  of  the  stage.] 

[Two  Slaves  appear  with  tapers  on  the  steps. 
As  they  go  down  the  steps,  they  light  the 
torches  that  are  clamped  against  the 
wall,  with  their  tapers.  Afterwards 
when  they  come  to  the  temple  they  light 
the  torches  there  till  they  are  all  lit. 
There  is  a  table  prepared  for  a  banquet 
in  the  temple  and  a  sewer-like  grating 
in  the  middle  of  a  wall.  The  two  Slaves 
a/re  Tharni  and  Thdrrabas.] 

THAEEABAS. 

Is  it  much  further,  Tharni  ? 
135 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

THARNI. 
I  think  not,  Tharrabas. 

THARRABAS. 
A  dank  and  terrible  place. 

THARNI. 
It  is  not  much  further. 

THAKRABAS. 

Why  does  the  Queen  banquet  in  so  fearful  a 
place  ? 

THAKNI. 
I  know  not.     She  banquets  with  her  enemies. 

THARRABAS. 

In  the  land  from  which  I  was  taken  we  do  not 
banquet  with  our  enemies. 

THARNI. 

No  ?    The  Queen  will  banquet  with  her  enemies. 

THARRABAS. 
Why  ?    Know  you  why  ? 

THARNI. 
It  is  the  way  of  the  Queen. 

[Silence.] 

THARRABAS. 

The  door,  Tharni,  we  have  come  to  the  door  1 
136 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

THAENI. 
Yes,  that's  the  Temple. 

THAEEABAS. 
Surely  a  grim  place. 

THAENI. 

The    banquet    is    prepared.      We  light  these 
torches,  that  is  all. 

THAEEABAS. 
Unto  whom  is  it  holy  ? 

THABKI. 

They  say  to  the  Nile  once.     I  know  not  unto 
whom  it  is  holy  now. 

THAEEABAS. 

So  Nile  has  left  it  ? 

THAENI. 

They  say  they  worship  him  in  this  place  no 
longer. 

THAEEABAS. 

And  if  I  were  holy  Nile  I  also  would  stay  up 
there  [pointing}  in  the  sunlight. 

[He  suddenly  sees  the  huge  misshapen  'bulk 

of  Harlee.~\ 
O— 0— O. 

137 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

HAELEE. 
Urh! 

THAENI. 
Why,  it's  Harlee. 

THAEEABAS. 
I  thought  you  were  some  fearful,  evil  god. 

[Harlee  laughs.     He  remains  leaning  on 

his  great  iron  bar.] 

THAENI. 
He  waits  here  for  the  Queen. 

THAEEABAS. 
What  sinister  need  could  she  have  of  Harlee  ? 

THAENI. 

I  know  not.    You  wait  for  the  Queen,  Harlee  ? 

\_Harlee  nods.] 

THAEEABAS. 

I  would  not  banquet  here.    Not  with  a  Queen. 

[Harlee  laughs  long.] 

Our  work  is  done.    Come.    Let  us  leave  this 
place. 

[Exeunt   Thdrrdbas    and   Tharni  up   the 

steps.'] 

[The  Queen  appears  with  her  handmaid, 
Ackazdrpses,   coming    down    the  steps, 
138 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

Her  handmaid  holds  her  train.     They 
enter  the  temple.] 

QUEEN. 
Ah,  all  is  ready. 

ACKAZARPSES. 

No,  no,  Illustrious  Lady.  Nothing  is  ready. 
Your  raiment — we  must  fasten  it  here  [shoulder], 
and  then  the  bow  in  your  hair. 

[She  begins  to  tittivate  the  Queen.] 

QUEEN. 

Ackazarpses,  Ackazarpses.  I  cannot  bear  to  have 
enemies. 

ACKAZARPSES. 

Indeed,  Illustrious  Lady,  it  is  most  wrong  that 
you  should  have  enemies.  One  so  delicate,  so 
slender  and  withal  so  beautiful  should  never  have 
a  foe. 

QUEEN. 

If  the  gods  could  understand  they  would  never 
permit  it. 

ACKAZARPSES. 

I  have  poured  out  dark  wine  to  them,  I  have 
offered  them  fat,  indeed,  I  have  often  offered  them 
savoury  things.    I  have  said :  "  The  Queen  should 
139 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

not  have  enemies  ;  she  is  too  delicate,  too  fair." 
But  they  will  not  understand. 

QUEEN. 

If  they  could  see  my  tears  they  would  never 
permit  such  woes  to  be  borne  by  one  small  woman. 
But  they  only  look  at  men  and  their  horrible  wars. 
Why  must  men  slay  one  another  and  make  horri- 
ble war  ? 

ACKAZARPSES. 

I  blame  your  enemies,  Illustrious  Lady,  more 
than  the  gods.  Why  should  they  trouble  you 
who  are  so  fair  and  so  easily  hurt  by  their  anger  ? 
It  was  but  a  little  territory  you  took  from  them. 
How  much  better  to  lose  a  little  territory  than  to 
be  unmannerly  and  unkind. 

QUEEN. 

0  speak  not  of  the  territory.     I  know  naught 
of  these  things.     They  say  my  captains  took  it. 
How  should  I  know  ?    O  why  will  they  be  my 
enemies  ? 

ACKAZARPSES. 
You  are  most  fair  to-night,  Illustrious  Lady. 

QUEEN. 

1  must  needs  be  fair  to-night. 

140 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

ACKAZARPSES. 

Indeed  you  are  most  fair. 

QUEEN. 
A  little  more  perfume,  Ackazarpses. 

ACKAZAKPSES. 
I  will  tie  the  coloured  bow  more  evenly. 

QUEEN. 

O  they  will  never  look  at  it.  They  will  not 
know  if  it  is  orange  or  blue.  I  shall  weep  if  they 
do  not  look  at  it.  It  is  a  pretty  bow. 

ACKAZAKPSES. 
Calm  yourself,  lady !    They  will  be  here  soon. 

QUEEN. 

Indeed  I  think  they  are  very  close  to  me  now, 
for  I  feel  myself  trembling. 

ACKAZAKPSES. 

You  must  not  tremble,  Illustrious  Lady;  you 
must  not  tremble. 

QUEEN. 
They  are  such  terrible  men,  Ackazdrpses. 

ACKAZARPSES. 

But  you  must  not  tremble,  for  your  raiment  is 
now  perfect ;  yet  if  you  tremble,  alas !  who  may 
say  how  it  will  hang  ? 

141 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

QUEEN. 
They  are  such  huge,  terrible  men. 

ACKAZARPSES. 

O  the  raiment,  the  raiment ;  you  must  not,  you 
must  not ! 

QUEEN. 

0  I  cannot  bear  it.  I  cannot  bear  it.  There  is 
Khadamandaspes,  that  huge,  fierce  soldier,  and  the 
terrible  Priest  of  Horus,  and  .  .  .  and  .  .  . 
O  I  cannot  see  them,  I  cannot  see  them. 

ACKAZARPSES. 

Lady,  you  have  invited  them. 

QUEEN. 

O  say  I  am  ill,  say  I  am  sick  of  a  fever.  Quick, 
quick,  say  I  have  some  swift  fever  and  cannot  see 
them. 

ACKAZARPSES. 

Illustrious  Lady     .    .    . 

QUEEN. 
Quick,  for  I  cannot  bear  it. 

[Exit  Ackazdrpses.] 
O,  I  cannot  bear  to  have  enemies. 
142 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

ACKAZAKPSES. 

[Returning.'] 
Lady,  they  are  here. 

QUEEN. 

O  what  shall  we  do?  .  .  .  Set  this  bow 
higher  upon  my  head  so  that  it  must  be  seen. 

[Ackazdrpses  does  so.~\ 
The  pretty  bow. 

[She  continues  to  look  in  a  hand  mirror. 
A  slave  descends  the  stairs.  Then  RTid- 
damanddspes  and  Zophernes.  Rhd- 
damanddspes  and  Zophernes  stop  ;  the 
slave  stops  lower  down.] 

ZOPH^RNES. 

For  the  last  time,  Khadamanddspes,  consider. 
Even  yet  we  may  turn  back. 

KHADAMANDASPES. 

She  had  no  guards  outside  nor  was  there  any 
hiding  place  for  them.  There  was  the  empty 
plain  and  the  Nile  only. 


Who  knows  what  she  may  have  in  this  dark 
temple  ? 

143 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

KHADAMANDASPES. 

It  is  small  and  the  stairway  narrow ;  our  friends 
are  close  behind  us.  We  could  hold  these  steps 
with  our  swords  against  all  her  men. 

ZOPH^RNES. 

True.  They  are  narrow  steps.  Yet  .  .  . 
Kh&damandaspes,  I  do  not  fear  man  or  god  or 
even  woman,  yet  when  I  saw  the  letter  this 
woman  sent  bidding  us  banquet  with  her  I  felt 
that  it  was  not  well  that  we  should  come. 

RHADAMANDASPES. 

She  said  that  she  would  love  us  though  we 
were  her  enemies. 

ZOPHERNES. 
It  is  not  natural  to  love  one's  enemies. 

KHADAMANDASPES. 

She  is  much  swayed  by  whims.  They  sway 
her  as  the  winds  in  Spring  sway  flowers — this 
way  and  that.  This  is  one  of  her  whims. 

ZOPH£RNES. 
I  do  not  trust  her  whims. 

KHADAMANDASPES. 

They  name  you  Zophernes,  giver  of  good  coun- 
sel, therefore  I  will  turn  back  because  you  counsel 

144 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

it,  though  I  would  fain  go  down  and  banquet 
with  this  little  playful  lady. 

[They  turn  and  mount. ~\ 

ZOPHEKNES. 

Believe  me,  Khadamandaspes,  it  is  better.  I 
think  that  if  you  had  gone  down  these  steps  we 
scarcely  should  have  seen  the  sky  again. 

KHADAMANDASPES. 

Well,  well,  we  turn  back,  though  I  would  fain 
have  humoured  the  Queen's  whim.  But  look. 
The  others  come.  We  cannot  turn  back.  There 
comes  the  Priest  of  Horus ;  we  must  go  to  the 
banquet  now. 

ZOPH^RNES. 

So  be  it. 

[They  descend.'] 

BHADAMANDASPES. 

We  will  be  circumspect.  If  she  has  men  in 
there  we  return  at  once. 

ZOPHERNES. 
So  be  it. 

[The  Slave  opens  the  door.~\ 

SLAVE. 

The  Princes  Bhadamandaspes  and  Zophernes. 
145 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

QUEEN. 
Welcome,  Illustrious  Princes. 

KHADAMANDASPES. 
Greeting. 

QUEEN. 

0  you  have  brought  your  sword ! 

KHADAMANDASPES. 

1  have  brought  my  sword. 

QUEEN. 
0  but  it  is  so  terrible,  your  great  sword. 

ZOPHEKNES. 
We  always  carry  our  swords. 

QUEEN. 

0  but  you  do  not  need  them.  If  you  have 
come  to  kill  me  your  great  hands  are  enough. 
But  why  do  you  bring  your  swords  ? 

KHADAMANDASPES. 
Illustrious  Lady,  we  do  not  come  to  kill  you. 

QUEEN. 
To  your  post,  Harlee. 

ZOPHERNES. 

What  are  this  Harlee  and  his  post  ? 
146 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

ACKAZARPSES. 

Do  not  tremble,  Illustrious  Lady,  indeed  you 
must  not  tremble. 

QUEEN. 

He  is  but  a  fisherman ;  he  lives  upon  the  Nile. 
He  nets  fish ;  indeed  he  is  nothing. 

ZOPHERNES. 
For  what  is  your  great  bar  of  iron,  Slave  ? 

[Harlee  opens  his  mouth  showing  that  he  is 

tongueless.     Exitl\ 
KHADAMANDASPES. 
Ugh !     They  have  burned  out  his  tongue. 

ZOPHERNES. 
He  goes  on  secret  errands. 

[Enter  Second  /Slave.] 

SECOND  SLAVE. 
The  Priest  of  Horus. 

QUEEN. 
Welcome,  holy  companion  of  the  gods. 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 
Greeting. 

THIRD  SLAVE. 
The  King  of  the  Four  Countries. 

[She  and  he  make  oleisance.] 
147 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

FOUETH  SLAVE. 
The  Twin  Dukes  of  Ethiopia. 

KING. 
"We  are  ail  met. 

PEIEST  OF  HOEUS. 
All  that  have  warred  against  her  captains. 

QUEEN. 

O  speak  not  of  my  captains.  It  troubles  me  to 
hear  of  violent  men.  But  you  have  been  my 
enemies,  and  I  cannot  bear  to  have  enemies. 
Therefore  I  have  asked  you  to  banquet  with  me. 

PEIEST  OF  HOEUS. 
And  we  have  come. 

QUEEN. 

O  look  not  so  sternly  at  me.  I  cannot  bear  to 
have  enemies.  When  I  have  enemies  I  do  not 
sleep.  Is  it  not  so,  Ackazarpses  ? 

ACKAZAEPSES. 

Indeed,  the  Illustrious  Lady  has  suffered  much, 

QUEEN. 
O  Ackazarpses,  why  should  I  have  enemies  ? 

ACKAZAEPSES. 

After  to-night  you  will  sleep,  Illustrious  Lady. 
148 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

QUEEN. 

Why,  yes,  for  we  shall  all  be  friends  ;  shall  we 
not,  princes  ?  Let  us  be  seated. 

KHADAMANDASPES. 

[To  Zophernes.~\ 
There  is  no  other  doorway.    That  is  well. 

ZOPHERNES. 

Why,  no,  there  is  not.  Yet  what  is  that  great 
hole  that  is  full  of  darkness  ? 

KHADAMANDASPES. 

Only  one  man  at  a  time  could  come  that  way. 
We  are  safe  from  man  or  beast.  Nothing  could 
enter  that  way  for  our  swords. 

QUEEN. 
I  pray  you  to  be  seated. 

[They  seat  themselves  cautiously,  she  stand- 
ing watching  themJ] 


There  are  no  servitors. 

QUEEN. 

Are  there  not  viands  before  you,  Prince  Zo- 
phernes,  or  are  there  too  few  fruits  that  you 
should  blame  me  ? 

149 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

ZOPHERNES. 

I  do  not  blame  you. 

QUEEN. 
I  fear  you  blame  me  with  your  fierce  eyes. 

ZOPHERNES. 
I  do  not  blame  you. 

QUEEN. 

0  my  enemies,  I  would  have  you  kind  to  me. 
And  indeed  there  are  no  servitors,  for  I  know 
what  evil  things  you  think  of  me    .    .     . 

A  DUKE  OF  ETHIOPIA. 
No,  Queen,  indeed  we  think  no  evil  of  you. 

QUEEN. 
Ah,  but  you  think  terrible  things. 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 
We  think  no  evil  of  you,  Illustrious  Lady. 

QUEEN. 

1  feared  that  if  I  had  servitors  you  would 
think    .     .     .    you    would    say,   "This    wicked 
Queen,  our  enemy,  will  bid  them  attack  us  while 
we  feast." 

[First  Duke  of  Ethiopia  furtively  hands 
food  to  his  Slave  standing  behind  him, 
who  tastes  it.'] 

150 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

Though  you  do  not  know  how  I  dread  the  sight 
of  blood,  and  indeed  I  would  never  bid  them  do 
such  a  thing.  The  sight  of  blood  is  shocking. 

PRIEST  OF  HOEUS. 
We  trust  you,  Illustrious  Lady. 

\He  does  the  same  with  his  Slave.] 

QUEEN. 

And  for  miles  round  this  temple  and  all  along 
the  river  I  have  said,  "  Let  there  be  no  man."  I 
have  commanded  and  there  are  not.  Will  you 
not  trust  me  now  ? 

[Zophernes  does  the  same  and  all  the  guests, 

one  ly  one.] 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 
Indeed,  we  trust  you. 

QUEEN. 

And  you,  Prince  Zophernes,  with  your  fierce 
eyes  that  so  frighten  me — will  you  not  trust  me  ? 

ZOPHERNES. 

O  Queen,  it  is  part  of  the  art  of  war  to  be  well 
prepared  when  in  an  enemy's  country,  and  we 
have  been  so  long  at  war  with  your  captains  that 
we  perforce  remember  some  of  the  art.  It  is  not 
that  we  do  not  trust  you. 
151 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

QUEEN. 

I  am  all  alone  with  my  handmaid  and  none  will 
trust  me !  O  Ackazarpses,  I  am  frightened ;  what 
if  my  enemies  should  slay  me  and  carry  me  up, 
and  cast  my  body  into  the  lonely  Nile. 

ACKAZAKPSES. 

No,  no,  Illustrious  Lady.  They  will  not  harm 
you.  They  do  not  know  how  their  fierce  looks 
distress  you.  They  do  not  know  how  delicate 
you  are. 

PEIEST  OF  HOKTTS. 

[To  Ackazarpses. ] 

Indeed  we  trust  the  Queen  and  none  would 
harm  her. 

[Ackazarpses  soothes  the  Queen.] 

KHADAMANDASPES. 

[To  ZophernesJ] 

I  think  we  do  wrong  to  doubt  her,  seeing  she 
is  alone. 

ZOPHEKNES. 

[To  Ehddamanddspes.'] 
Yet  I  would  that  the  banquet  were  over. 

QUEEN. 

[To  Ackazarpses  and  the  Priest  of  Horus, 

out  audible  to  all.] 
15* 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

Yet  they  do  not  eat  the  food  that  I  set  before 
them. 

DUKE  OF  ETHIOPIA. 

In  Ethiopia  when  we  feast  with  queens  it  is 
our  custom  not  to  eat  at  once  but  to  await  the 
Queen  till  she  has  eaten. 

QUEEN. 


Behold  then,  I  have  eaten. 

[She  looks  at  Priest  of  HorusJ] 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 

It  has  been  the  custom  of  all  that  held  my 

office,  from  the  time  when  there  went  on  earth 

the  children  of  the  Moon,  never  to  eat  till  the 

food  is  dedicate,  by  our  sacred  signs,  to  the  gods. 

[He  begins  to  wave  his  hands  over  thefoodJ] 

QUEEN. 

The  King  of  the  Four  Countries  does  not  eat. 
And  you,  Prince  Rhadamandaspes,  you  have  given 
royal  wine  unto  your  slave. 

RHADAMANDASPES. 

O  Queen,  it  is  the  custom  of  our  dynasty   .    .   . 
and  has  indeed  long  been  so,    ...    as  many 
say,    .    .    .    that  the  noble  should  not  feast  till 
153 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

the   base  have  feasted,   reminding  us  that  our 
bodies  even  as  the  humble  bodies  of  the  base  .   .   . 

QUEEN. 

"Why  do  you  thus  watch  your  slave,  Prince 
Khadamandaspes  ? 

KHADAMANDASPES. 

Even  to  remind  myself  that  I  have  done  as  our 
dynasty  doth. 

QUEEN. 

Alas  for  me,  Ackazarpses,  they  will  not  feast 
with  me,  but  mock  me  because  I  am  little  and 
alone.  O  I  shall  not  sleep  to-night,  I  shall  not 

sleep. 

[She  weeps.] 

ACKAZARPSES. 

Yes,  yes,  Illustrious  Lady,  you  shall  sleep.  Be 
patient  and  all  shall  be  well  and  you  will  sleep. 

KHADAMANDASPES. 
But  Queen,  Queen,  we  are  about  to  eat. 

DUKE  OF  ETHIOPIA. 
Yes,  yes,  indeed  we  do  not  mock  you, 

KING  OF  FOUR  COUNTRIES. 
We  do  not  mock  you,  Queen. 
154 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

QUEEN. 
They    .    .    .    give  my  food  to  slaves. 

PKIEST  OF  HOKUS. 
That  was  a  mistake. 

QUEEN. 
It  was    ...    no  mistake. 

PRIEST  OF  HOKUS. 
The  slaves  were  hungry. 

QUEEN. 

[Still  weeping.'] 

They  believe  I  would  poison  them. 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 

No,  no,  Illustrious  Lady,  they  do  not  believe 
that. 

QUEEN. 
They  believe  I  would  poison  them. 

ACKAZARPSES. 

[Comforting  her.] 

O  hush,  hush.     They  do  not  mean  to  be  so 
cruel. 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 

They  do  not  believe  you  would  poison  them. 
But  they  do  not  know  if  the  meat  was  killed  with 
a  poisonous  arrow  or  if  an  asp  may  have  inadvert- 
155 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

ently  bitten  the  fruit.  These  things  may  hap- 
pen, but  they  do  not  believe  you  would  poison 
them. 

QUEEN. 
They  believe  I  would  poison  them. 

KHADAMANDASPES. 
No ;  Queen,  see,  we  eat. 

{They  hastily  whisper  to  slaves.] 

FIRST  DUKE  OF  ETHIOPIA. 
We  eat  your  viands,  Queen. 

SECOND  DUKE  OF  ETHIOPIA. 
We  drink  your  wine. 

KING  OF  FOUE  COUNTRIES. 
We  eat  your  good  pomegranates  and  Egyptian 
grapes. 

ZOPH^RNES. 
We  eat. 

[They  all  eat.] 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 

[Smiling  affably.'] 

I  too  eat  of  your  excellent  banquet,  O  Queen. 
[He  peels    a  fruit  slowly,  glancing  con- 
stantly at  the  others.] 
156 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

[Meanwhile  the  catches  in  the  Queen's  breath 
grow  fewer,  she  begins  to  dry  her  eyes.~\ 

ACKAZARPSES. 

[In  her  ear] 
They  eat. 

[Ackazdrpses  lifts  her  head  and 
watches  them.] 

QUEEN. 
Perhaps  the  wine  is  poisoned. 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 
No,  no,  Illustrious  Lady. 

QUEEN. 
Perhaps  the  grape  was  cut  by  a  poisoned  arrow. 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 
But  indeed    .     .     .    indeed    .     .     . 

[Queen  drinks  from  his  cup] 

QUEEN. 
Will  you  not  drink  my  wine  ? 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 
I  drink  to  our  continued  friendship. 

[He  drinks] 

A  DUKE  OF  ETHIOPIA. 

Our  continued  friendship ! 
157 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

PEIEST  OF  HOEUS. 

There  has  been  DO  true  enmity.     We  misunder- 
stood the  Queen's  armies. 

KHADAMANDASPES. 

[To  Zophernes] 

"We  have  wronged  the  Queen.     The  wine's  not 
poisoned.     Let  us  drink  to  her. 

ZOPHEENES. 
So  be  it. 

KHADAMANDASPES. 
We  drink  to  you,  Queen. 

ZOPH£ENES. 
We  drink. 

QUEEN. 
The  flagon,  Ackazarpses. 

[Ackazdrpses  brings  it.     The  Queen  pours 

it  into  her  cup.] 
Fill  up  your  goblets  from  the  flagon,  princes. 

[She  drinks.] 

KHADAMANDASPES. 
We  wronged  you,  Queen.     It  is  a  blessed  wine. 

QUEEN. 

It  is  an  ancient  wine  and  grew  in  Lesbos,  look- 
ing from  Mytelene  to  the  South.     Ships  brought 

158 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

it  over-seas  and  up  this  river  to  gladden  the  hearts 
of  man  in  holy  Egypt.    But  to  me  it  brings  no 


DUKE  OF  ETHIOPIA. 
It  is  a  happy  wine,  Queen. 

QUEEN. 
I  have  been  thought  a  poisoner. 

PRIEST  OF  HOKUS. 
Indeed,  none  has  thought  that,  Illustrious  Lady. 

QUEEN. 
You  have  all  thought  it. 

KHADAMANDASPES. 
We  ask  your  pardon,  Queen. 

KING  OF  FOUR  COUNTRIES. 
We  ask  your  pardon. 

DUKE  OF  ETHIOPIA. 
Indeed  we  erred. 

ZOPH^RNES. 

[Rising.] 

We  have  eaten  your  fruits  and  drunk  your 
wine  ;  and  we  have  asked  your  pardon.  Let  us 
now  depart  in  amity. 

159 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

QUEEN. 

No,  no !  No,  no !  You  must  not  go !  I  shall 
say  ..."  They  are  my  enemies  still,"  and  I 
shall  not  sleep.  I  that  cannot  bear  to  have 
enemies. 

ZOPH£RNES. 
Let  us  depart  in  all  amity. 

QUEEN. 
O  will  you  not  feast  with  me  ? 

ZOPHERNES. 
"We  have  feasted. 

EH  AD  AMAND  ASPES. 

No,  no,  Zophernes.  Do  you  not  see?  The 
Queen  takes  it  to  heart. 

[Zophernes  sits  down.] 

QUEEN. 

O  feast  with  me  a  little  longer  and  make  merry, 
and  be  my  enemies  no  more.  Khadamandaspes, 
there  is  some  country  eastwards  towards  Assyria, 
is  there  not  ? — I  do  not  know  its  name — a  country 
which  your  dynasty  claims  of  me  .  .  . 

ZOPHERNES. 
Ha! 

160 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

KHADAMANDASPES. 

[Resignedly.] 
"We  have  lost  it. 

QUEEN. 

.  .  .  and  for  whose  sake  you  are  my  enemy 
and  your  fierce  uncle,  Prince  Zophernes. 

RHADAMANDASPES. 

We  fought  somewhat  with  your  armies,  Queen. 
But  indeed  it  was  but  to  practise  the  military  art. 

QUEEN. 

I  will  call  my  captains  to  me.  I  will  call  them 
down  from  their  high  places  and  reprove  them 
and  bid  them  give  the  country  back  to  you  that 
lies  eastwards  towards  Assyria.  Only  you  shall 
tarry  here  at  the  feast  and  forget  you  ever  were 
my  enemies  .  .  .  forget  .  .  . 

KHAD AM  AND  ASPES. 

Queen  .  .  .  !  Queen  .  .  .  !  It  was 
my  mother's  country  as  a  child  .  .  . 

QUEEN. 
You  will  not  leave  me  alone  then  here  to-night. 

KHADAMANDASPES. 
No,  most  royal  lady. 

161 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

QUEEN. 

[To  King  of  Four  Countries  who  appears 

about  to  depart  ~\ 

And  in  the  matter  of  the  merchant  men  that 
trade  amongst  the  isles,  they  shall  offer  spices  at 
your  feet,  not  at  mine,  and  the  men  of  the  isles 
shall  offer  goats  to  your  gods. 

KING  OF  FOUR  COUNTRIES. 
Most  generous  Queen    .     .     .     indeed    .    .    . 

QUEEN. 

But  you  will  not  leave  my  banquet  and  go  un- 
friendly away. 

KING  OF  FOUK  COUNTRIES. 
No,  Queen    .    .    . 

[He  drinks.'] 

QUEEN. 

[She  looks  at  the  Two  Dukes  amiably.'] 
All  Ethiopia  shall  be  yours,  down  to  the  un- 
known kingdoms  of  the  beasts. 

FIRST  DUKE  OF  ETHIOPIA. 
Queen. 

SECOND  DUKE  OF  ETHIOPIA. 
Queen.    "We  drink  to  the  glory  of  your  throne, 
162 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

QUEEN. 

Stay  then  and  feast  with  me.  For  not  to  have 
enemies  is  the  beggar's  joy;  and  I  have  looked 
from,  windows  long  and  long,  envying  those  that 
go  their  ways  in  rags.  Stay  with  me,  dukes  and 
princes. 

PRIEST  OF  HOKUS. 

Illustrious  Lady,  the  generosity  of  your  royal 
heart  has  given  the  gods  much  joy. 

QUEEN. 

[Smiles  at  himJ] 
Thank  you. 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 

Er  .  .  .  in  the  matter  of  the  tribute  due  to 
Horus  from  all  the  people  of  Egypt  .  .  . 

QUEEN. 
It  is  yours. 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 
Illustrious  Lady. 

QUEEN. 
I  will  take  none  of  it.    Use  it  how  you  will. 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 

The  gratitude  of  Horus  shall  shine  on  you.  My 
little  Ackazarpses,  how  happy  you  are  in  having 
so  royal  a  mistress. 

163 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

[His  arm  is  round  Ackazdrpses*  waist} 
Aclcazdrpses  smiles  at  him] 

QUEEN. 

[Rising.] 

Princes  and  gentlemen,  let  us  drink  to  the 
future. 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 

[Starting  suddenly] 
Ah-h-h ! 

QUEEN. 

Something  has  troubled  you,  holy  companion  of 
the  gods  ? 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 

No,  nothing.  Sometimes  the  spirit  of  prophecy 
comes  on  me.  It  comes  not  often.  It  seemed  to 
come  then.  I  thought  that  one  of  the  gods  spoke 
to  me  clearly. 

QUEEN. 
What  said  he  ? 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 

I  thought  he  said  .  .  .  speaking  here  [right 
ear]  or  just  behind  me  ...  Drink  not  to  the 
Future.  But  it  was  nothing. 

QUEEN. 

Will  you  drink  then  to  the  past  ? 
164 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS 

O  no,  Illustrious  Lady,  for  we  forget  the  past ; 
your  good  wine  has  made  us  forget  the  past  and 
its  quarrels. 

ACKAZARPSES. 

Will  you  not  drink  to  the  present  ? 

PRIEST  OF  HORUS. 

Ah,  the  present !  The  present  that  places  me 
by  so  lovely  a  lady.  I  drink  to  the  present. 

QUEEN. 

\To  the  others^ 

And  we,  we  will  drink  to  the  future,  and  to 
forgetting — to  the  forgetting  of  our  enemies. 

[All    drink;    good  temper  comes  on  all. 
The  banquet  begins  "  to  go  well.11] 

QUEEN. 
Ackazarpses,  they  are  all  merry  now. 

ACKAZARPSES. 
They  are  all  merry. 

QUEEN. 
They  are  telling  Ethiopian  tales. 

FIRST  DUKE  OF  ETHIOPIA. 
.    .     .    for  when  Winter  comes  the  pigmies  at 
once  put  themselves  in  readiness  for  war  and  hav- 
166 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

ing  chosen  a  place  for  battle  wait  there  for  some 
days,  so  that  the  cranes  when  they  arrive  find 
their  enemy  already  arrayed.  And  at  first  they 
preen  themselves  and  do  not  give  battle,  but  when 
they  are  fully  rested  after  their  great  journey 
they  attack  the  pigmies  with  indescribable  fury 
so  that  many  are  slain,  but  the  pigmies  .  .  . 

QUEEN. 

[Taking  her  by  wrisf] 
Ackazarpses ! 

[The  Queen  rises.} 

ZOPHERNES. 

Queen,  you  do  not  leave  us  ? 

QUEEN. 
For  a  little  while,  Prince  Zophernes. 

ZOPH^ENES. 
For  what  purpose  ? 

QUEEN. 
I  go  to  pray  to  a  very  secret  god. 

ZoPIliRNES. 

What  is  his  name  ? 

QUEEN. 

His  name  is  secret  like  his  deeds. 
166 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

[She  goes  to  door.  Silence  falls.  All  watch 
her.  She  and  Ackazdrpses  slip  out. 
For  a  moment  silence.  Then  all  draw 
their  wide  swords  and  lay  t/iem  before 
them  on  the  table.~\ 

ZOPHEKNES. 

To  the  door,  slaves.     Let  no  man  enter. 

FIEST  DUKE  OF  ETHIOPIA. 
She  cannot  mean  harm  to  us ! 

[A  Slave  comes  back  from  door  and  abases 

himself.    Lo([.~] 

SLAVE. 
The  door  is  bolted. 

KHADAMANDASPES. 
It  is  easily  broken  with  our  swords. 

ZOPHERNES. 

No  harm  can  come  to  us  while  we  guard  the 
entrances. 

[Meanwhile    the    Queen  has  gone  up   the 
stairs.     She  beats  with   a  fan  on   the 
wall  thrice.    The  great  grating  lifts  out- 
wards  and  upwards  very  slowly.] 
167 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

ZOPH&RNES. 

[To  the  Two  Dukes.] 
Quick,  to  the  great  hole. 

[They  go.] 
Stand  on  each  side  of  it  with  your  swords. 

[They  lift  their  swords  over  the  hole.] 
Slay  whatever  enters. 

QUEEN. 

[On   the   step,   kneeling,  her  two  arms 
stretched  upwards.] 

0  holy  Nile!    Ancient    Egyptian   river!    0 
blessed  Nile !    When  I  was  a  little  child  I  played 
beside  you,  picking  mauve  flowers.     I  threw  you 
down  the  sweet  Egyptian  flowers.    It  is  the  little 
Queen  that  calls  tp  you,  Nile.    The  little  Queen 
that  cannot  bear  to  have  enemies.    Hear  me,  O 
Nile. 

Men  speak  of  other  rivers.  But  I  do  not  hearken 
to  fools.  There  is  only  Nile.  It  is  the  little  child 
that  prays  to  you  who  used  to  pick  mauve  flow- 
ers.  Hear  me,  O  Nile. 

1  have  prepared  a  sacrifice  to  god.    Men  speak 
of  other  gods :  there  is  only  Nile.     I  have  prepared 
a  sacrifice  of  wine — the  Lesbian  wine  from  fairy 
Mitylene* — to  mingle  with  your  waters  till  you  are 

168 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

drunken  and  go  singing  to  the  sea  from  the  Abys- 
sinian hills.  O  Nile,  hear  me. 

Fruits  also  have  I  made  ready,  all  the  sweet 
juices  of  the  earth;  and  the  meat  of  beasts  also. 

Hear  me,  O  Nile:  for  it  is  not  the  meat  of  beasts 
only.  I  have  slaves  for  you  and  princes  and  a 
King.  There  has  been  no  such  sacrifice. 

Come  down,  O  Nile,  from  the  sunlight. 

O  ancient  Egyptian  river!  The  sacrifice  is 
ready. 

O  Nile,  hear  me. 

DUKE  OF  ETHIOPIA. 
No  one  comes. 

QUEEN. 

[Beats  again  with  her  fan.] 
Harlee,   Harlee,   let    in    the   water  upon   the 
princes  and  gentlemen. 

[A  green  torrent  descends  from  the  great 

hole.    Green  gauzes  rise  up  from  the 

floor ;  the  torches  hiss  out.     The  temple 

is  flooded.     The  water  from  under  the 

doors  rises  up  the  steps  /  the  torches  hiss 

out  one  by  one.     The  water,  finding  its 

own  level,  just  touches  the  end  of  the 

Queen's  skirt  and  stops.    She  withdraws 

169 


The  Queen's  Enemies 

the  skirt  with  catlike  haste  from  the 
water.] 
O  Ackazarpses !    Are  all  my  enemies  gone  ? 

ACKAZARPSES. 

Illustrious  Lady,  the  Nile  has  taken  them  all. 

QUEEN. 

[  With  intense  devotion.] 
That  holy  river. 

ACKAZARPSES. 
Illustrious  Lady,  you  will  sleep  to-night  ? 

QUEEN. 
Yes.    I  shall  sleep  sweetly 


CURTAIN. 


170 


A   Night  at  an  Inn 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 


DKAMATIS  PEKSOELE 


A.  E.  SCOTT-FORTESCUE  (the  Toff) 
WILLIAM  JONES  (Bill) 
ALBERT  THOMAS, 
JACOB  SMITH  (Sniggers) 
IST  PRIEST  OF  KLESH. 
2ND  PRIEST  OF  KLESH. 
SRD  PRIEST  OF  KLESH. 
KLESH. 


a  dilapidated 
gentleman. 

Merchant 

Sailor** 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 


The  Curtain  rises  on  a  room  in  an  inn. 

[Sniggers  and  Bill  are  talking.  The  Toff 
is  reading  a  paper.  Albert  sits  a  little 
apart.] 

SNIGGERS. 
What's  his  idea,  I  wonder  ? 

BILL. 
I  don't  know. 

SNIGGEKS. 
And  how  much  longer  will  he  keep  us  here  ? 

BILL. 
We've  been  here  three  days. 

SNTGGEBS. 
And  'aven't  seen  a  soul. 

BILL. 

And  a  pretty  penny  it  cost  us  when  he  rented 
the  'pub. 

175 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

SNIGGERS. 
'Ow  long  did  'e  rent  the  'pub  for  ? 

BILL. 
You  never  know  with  him. 

SNIGGERS. 
It's  lonely  enough. 

BILL. 
'Ow  long  did  you  rent  the  'pub  for,  Toffy  ? 

[The  Toff  continues  to  read  a  sporting 
paper  ;  he  takes  no  notice  of  what  is 
saidJ] 

SNIGGERS. 
'E's  such  a  toff. 

BILL. 
Yet  'e's  clever,  no  mistake. 

SNIGGERS. 

Those  clever  ones  are  the  beggars  to  make  a 
muddle.  Their  plans  are  clever  enough,  but  they 
don't  work,  and  then  they  make  a  mess  of  things 
much  worse  than  you  or  me. 

BILL. 
Ah! 

SNIGGERS. 
I  don't  like  this  place. 

176 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

BILL. 

Why  not  ? 

SNIGGERS. 
I  don't  like  the  looks  of  it. 

BILL. 

He's  keeping  us  here  because  here  those  niggers 
can't  find  us.  The  three  heathen  priests  what 
was  looking  for  us  so.  But  we  want  to  go  and 
sell  our  ruby  soon. 

ALBERT. 
There's  no  sense  in  it. 

BILL. 
Why  not,  Albert  ? 

ALBERT. 

Because  I  gave  those  black  devils  the  slip  in 
HuU. 

BILL. 
You  give  'em  the  slip,  Albert  ? 

ALBERT. 

The  slip,  all  three  of  them.  The  fellows  with 
the  gold  spots  on  their  foreheads.  I  had  the  ruby 
then,  and  I  give  them  the  slip  in  Hull. 

BILL. 

How  did  you  do  it,  Albert? 
177 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

ALBERT. 

I  had  the  ruby  and  they  were  following 
me  .  .  . 

BILL. 

Who  told  them  you  had  the  ruby  ?  You  didn't 
show  it  ? 

ALBEET. 
No    .    .    .    But  they  kind  of  know. 

SNIGGERS. 
They  kind  of  know,  Albert  ? 

ALBERT. 

Yes,  they  know  if  youVe  got  it.  Well,  they 
sort  of  mouched  after  me,  and  I  tells  a  policeman 
and  he  says,  0  they  were  only  three  poor  niggers 
and  they  wouldn't  hurt  me.  Ugh !  When  I 
thought  of  what  they  did  in  Malta  to  poor  old 
Jim. 

BILL. 

Yes,  and  to  George  in  Bombay  before  we 
started. 

SNIGGERS. 
Ugh! 

178 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

BILL. 
Why  didn't  you  give  'em  in  charge  ? 

ALBERT. 
What  about  the  ruby,  Bill  ? 

BILL. 
Ah! 

ALBERT. 

Well,  I  did  better  than  that.  I  walks  up  and 
down  through  Hull.  I  walks  slow  enough.  And 
then  I  turns  a  corner  and  I  runs.  I  never  sees  a 
corner  but  I  turns  it.  But  sometimes  I  let  a 
corner  pass  just  to  fool  them.  I  twists  about 
like  a  hare.  Then  I  sits  down  and  waits.  No 
priests. 

SNIGGERS. 
What? 

ALBERT. 

No  heathen  black  devils  with  gold  spots  on  their 
face.  I  give  'em  the  slip. 

BILL. 
Well  done,  Albert. 

SNIGGERS. 

[After  a  sigh  of  content^ 
Why  didn't  you  tell  us? 
179 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

ALBERT. 

'Cause  'e  won't  let  you  speak.  'E's  got  'is  plans 
and  'e  thinks  we're  silly  folk.  Things  must  be 
done  'is  way.  And  all  the  time  I've  give  'em  the 
slip.  Might  'ave  'ad  one  o'  them  crooked  knives 
in  him  before  now  but  for  me  who  give  'em  the 
slip  in  Hull. 

BILL. 
Well  done,  Albert. 

SNIGGERS. 

Do  you  hear  that,  Toffy?  Albert  has  give 
'em  the  slip. 

THE  TOFF. 
Yes,  I  hear. 

SNIGGERS. 
Well,  what  do  you  say  to  that  ? 

THE  TOFF. 
O    .    .    .    Well  done,  Albert. 

ALBERT. 
And  what  a'  you  going  to  do  ? 

THE  TOFF. 
Going  to  wait. 

180 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

ALBERT. 
Don't  seem  to  know  what  'e's  waiting  for. 

SNIGGERS. 
It's  a  nasty  place. 

ALBERT. 

It's  getting  silly,  Bill.     Our  money's  gone  and 
we  want  to  sell  the  ruby.     Let's  get  on  to  a  town. 

BILL. 
But  'e  won't  come. 

ALBERT. 
Then  we'll  leave  him. 

SNIGGERS. 
We'll  be  all  right  if  we  keep  away  from  Hull. 

ALBERT. 
We'll  go  to  London. 

BILL. 
But  'e  must  'ave  'is  share. 

SNIGGERS. 

All  right.     Only  let's  go.     {To  the  Toff.}    We're 
going,  do  you  hear  ?    Give  us  the  ruby. 

THE  TOFF. 
Certainly. 

[He  gives  them  a  ruby  from  his  waistcoat 
181 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

pocket  :  it  is  the  size  of  a  small  hen  ^ 


[He  goes  on  reading  his  paper.  ,] 

ALBEET. 
Come  on,  Sniggers. 

[Exeunt  Albert  and  Sniggers.] 

BILL. 

Good-bye,  old  man.  We'll  give  you  your  fair 
share,  but  there's  nothing  to  do  here,  no  girls,  no 
halls,  and  we  must  sell  the  ruby. 

THE  TOFF. 
I'm  not  a  fool,  Bill. 

BILL. 

No,  no,  of  course  not.  Of  course  you  ain't,  and 
you've  helped  us  a  lot.  Good-bye.  You'll  say 
good-bye  ? 

THE  TOFF. 
Oh,  yes.    Good-bye. 

[Still  reads  paper.   Exit  Bill] 

[The  Toff  puts  a  revolver  on  the  table  Reside 

him  and  goes  on  with  his  paper.  ~\ 

SNIGGERS. 

[Out  of  breath.] 
We've  come  back,  Toffy. 
182 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

THE  TOFF. 
So  you  have. 

ALBERT. 
Toffy — how  did  they  get  here  ? 

THE  TOFF. 

They  walked,  of  course. 

ALBEET. 
But  it's  eighty  miles. 

SNIGGERS. 
Did  you  know  they  were  here,  Toffy  ? 

THE  TOFF. 
Expected  them  about  now. 

ALBERT. 
Eighty  miles. 

BILL. 
Toffy,  old  man — what  are  we  to  do  ? 

THE  TOFF. 
Ask  Albert. 

BILL. 

If  they  can  do  things  like  this  there's  no  one 
can  save  us  but  you,  Toffy — I  always  knew  you 
were  a  clever  one.  We  won't  be  fools  any  more. 
We'll  obey  you,  Toffy. 

183 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

THE  TOFF. 

You're  brave  enough  and  strong  enough.  There 
isn't  many  that  would  steal  a  ruby  eye  out  of  an 
idol's  head,  and  such  an  idol  as  that  was  to  look 
at,  and  on  such  a  night.  You're  brave  enough, 
Bill.  But  you're  all  three  of  you  fools.  Jim 
would  have  none  of  my  plans  and  where's  Jim  ? 
And  George.  What  did  they  do  to  him  ? 

SNIGGERS. 
Don't,  Toffy ! 

THE  TOFF. 

"Well,  then,  your  strength  is  no  use  to  you.  You 
want  cleverness ;  or  they'll  have  you  the  way  that 
they  had  George  and  Jim. 

ALL. 
Ugh! 

THE  TOFF. 

Those  black  priests  would  follow  you  round  the 
world  in  circles,  year  after  year,  till  they  got  the 
idol's  eye.  And  if  we  died  with  it  they'd  follow 
our  grandchildren.  That  fool  thinks  he  can 
escape  men  like  that  by  running  round  three 
streets  in  the  town  of  Hull. 
184 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

ALBERT. 

God's  truth,  you  'aven't  escaped  them,  because 
they're  ''ere. 

THE  TOFF. 
So  I  supposed. 

ALBERT. 
You  supposed  ! 

THE  TOFF. 

Yes,  I  believe  there's  no  announcement  in  the 
Society  papers.  But  I  took  this  country  seat 
especially  to  receive  them.  There's  plenty  of 
room  if  you  dig ;  it  is  pleasantly  situated  and 
what  is  most  important  it  is  in  a  very  quiet  neigh- 
bourhood. So  I  am  at  home  to  them  this  after- 
noon. 

BILL. 

"Well,  you're  a  deep  one. 

THE  TOFF. 

And  remember  you've  only  my  wits  between 
you  and  death,  and  don't  put  your  futile  plans 
against  those  of  an  educated  gentleman. 

ALBERT. 

If  you're  a  gentleman,  why  don't  you  go  about 
among  gentlemen  instead  of  the  likes  of  us  ? 
185 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

THE  TOFF. 

Because  I  was  too  clever  for  them  as  I  am  too 
clever  for  you. 

ALBEET. 
Too  clever  for  them  ? 

THE  TOFF. 
I  never  lost  a  game  of  cards  in  my  life. 

BILL. 
You  never  lost  a  game  ? 

THE  TOFF. 
Not  when  there  was  money  on  it, 

BILL. 
Well,  well. 

THE  TOFF. 
Have  a  game  of  poker  ? 

ALL. 
No,  thanks. 

THE  TOFP. 
Then  do  as  you're  told. 

BILL. 
AU  right,  Toffy. 

186 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

SNIGGERS. 

I  saw  something  just  then.    Hadn't  we  better 
draw  the  curtains  ? 

THE  TOFF. 
No. 

SNIGGERS. 
What? 

THE  TOFF. 
Don't  draw  the  curtains. 

SNIGGERS. 
O  all  right. 

BILL. 

But  Toffy,  they  can  see  us.    One  doesn't  let 
the  enemy  do  that.    I  don't  see  why    .    .    . 

THE  TOFF. 
No,  of  course  you  don't. 

BILL. 
O  all  right,  Toffy. 

[All  begin  to  pull  out  revolvers.'] 

THE  TOFF. 

[Putting  his  own  away.] 
No  revolvers,  please. 

187 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

ALBEET. 
Why  not  ? 

THE  TOFF. 

Because  I  don't  want  any  noise  at  my  party. 
We  might  get  guests  that  hadn't  been  invited. 
Knives  are  a  different  matter. 

[All  draw  knives.  The  Toff  signs  to  them 
not  to  draw  them  yet.  Toffy  has  al- 
ready  taken  lack  his  ruby.'] 

BILL. 
I  think  they're  coming,  Toffy. 

THE  TOFF. 
Not  yet. 

ALBERT. 
When  will  they  come  ? 

THE  TOFF. 

When  I  am  quite  ready  to  receive  them.  Not 
before. 

SNIGGERS. 
I  should  like  to  get  this  over. 

THE  TOFF. 

Should  you  ?    Then  we'll  have  them  now. 
188 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

SNIGGERS. 
Now? 

THE  TOFF. 

Yes.  Listen  to  me.  You  shall  do  as  you  see 
me  do.  You  will  all  pretend  to  go  out.  I'll  show 
you  how.  I've  got  the  ruby.  When  they  see  me 
alone  they  will  come  for  their  idol's  eye. 

BILL. 
How  can  they  tell  like  this  which  of  us  has  it  ? 

THE  TOFF. 
I  confess  I  don't  know,  but  they  seem  to. 

SNIGGERS. 
What  will  you  do  when  they  come  in  ? 

THE  TOFF. 
1  shall  do  nothing. 

SNIGGERS. 
What? 

THE  TOFF. 

They  will  creep  up  behind  me.  Then  my 
friends,  Sniggers  and  Bill  and  Albert,  who  gave 
them  the  slip,  will  do  what  they  can. 

BILL. 

All  right,  Toffy.     Trust  us. 
189 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

THE  TOFF. 

If  you're  a  little  slow  you  will  see  enacted  the 
cheerful  spectacle  that  accompanied  the  demise  of 
Jim. 

SNIGGERS. 
Don't,  Toffy.    We'll  be  there  all  right. 

THE  TOFF. 
Yery  well.    Now  watch  me. 

\He  goes  past  the  windows  to  the  inner 
door  E.  ;  lie  opens  it  inwards.     Then 
under  cover  of  the  open  door  he  slips 
down  on   his   Icnee   and  closes  it,  re- 
maining on   the  inside,   appearing  to 
have  gone  out.     He  signs  to  the  others 
who  understand.     Then  he  appears  to 
reenter  in  the  same  manner.'] 
Now,  I  shall  sit  with  my  back  to  the  door. 
You  go  out  one  by  one  so  far  as  our  friends  can 
make  out.     Crouch  very  low  to  be  on  the  safe 
side.     They  mustn't  see  you  through  the  window. 
[Bill  makes  his  sham  exitJ] 
Eemember,  no  revolvers.     The  police  are,  I  be- 
lieve, proverbially  inquisitive. 

[The  other  two  follow  Bill.     All  three  are 
now  crouching  inside  the  door  K.     The 
190 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

Toff  puts  the  ruby  beside  him  on  the 
table.  He  lights  a  ciyarette.~] 

[The  door  in  back  opens  so  slowly  that  you 
can  hardly  say  at  what  moment  it  began. 
The  Toff  picks  up  his  paper. ] 

[A  Native  of  India  wriggles  along  the  floor 
ever  so  slowly,  seeking  cover  from  chairs. 
He  moves  L.  where  the  Toff  is.  The 
three  sailors  are  E.  Sniggers  and  Al- 
bert lean  forward.  BiWs  arm  keeps 
them  back.  An  armchair  had  better 
conceal  them  from  the  Indian.  The 
black  Priest  nears  the  Toff.] 

[Bill  watches  to  see  if  any  more  are  com- 
ing. Then  he  leaps  forward  alone  (he 
has  taken  his  boots  off)  and  knifes  the 
Priest.] 

[The  Priest  tries  to  shout  but  BiWs  left 
hand  is  over  his  mouth.'] 

[The  Toff  continues  to  read  his  sporting 
paper.  He  never  looks  round.] 

BILL. 

[Sotto  voce.] 

There's  only  one,  Toffy.    What  shall  we  do  ? 
191 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

THE  TOFF. 

[  Without  turning  his  head.'} 
Only  one  ? 

BILL. 
Yes. 

THE  TOFF. 
"Wait  a  moment.    Let  me  think. 

[Still  apparently  absorbed  in  his  paper. 
Ah,  yes.     You  go  back,  Bill.     We  must  attract 
another  guest.    Now  are  you  ready  ? 

BILL. 
Yes. 

THE  TOFF. 

All  right.  You  shall  now  see  my  demise  at  my 
Yorkshire  residence.  You  must  receive  guests  for 
me. 

[He  leaps  up  in  full  view  of  the  window, 
flings  up  both  arms  and  falls  on  to  the 
floor  near  the  dead  Priest.] 
Now  be  ready. 

[His  eyes  close.} 

[There  is  a  long  pause.     Again  the  door 

opens,  very  very  slowly.   Another  Priest 

creeps  in.     He  has  three  golden  spots 

upon  his  forehead.     He  looks  round, 

192 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 


then  he  creeps  up  to  his  companion  and 
turns  him  over  and  looks  inside  each  of 
his  clenched  hands.  Then  he  looks  at 
the  recumbent  Toff.  Then  he  creeps 
towards  him.'] 

[Bill  slips  after  him  and  knifes  him  like 
the  other  with  his  left  hand  over  hu 
mouth.'] 

BILL. 


[Sotto  voceJ] 


We've  only  got  two,  Toffy. 
THE  TOFF. 


Still  another. 
What'll  we  do  ? 


BILL. 


THE  TOFF. 


[Sitting  up.~\ 


Hum. 

BILL. 
This  is  the  best  way,  much. 

THE  TOFF. 

Out  of  the  question.    Never  play  the  same  game 
twice. 

193 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

BILL. 
Why  not,  Toffy  ? 

THE  TOFF. 
Doesn't  work  if  you  do. 

BILL. 
Well? 

THE  TOFF. 

I  have  it,  Albert.    You  will  now  walk  into  the 
room.    I  showed  you  how  to  do  it. 

ALBERT. 
Yes. 

THE  TOFF. 

Just  run  over  here  and  have  a  fight  at  this  win- 
dow with  these  two  men. 

ALBERT. 
But  they're 

THE  TOFF. 
Yes,  they're  dead,  my  perspicuous  Albert.     But 

Bill  and  I  are  going  to  resuscitate  them 

Come  on. 

[Bill picks  up  a  "body  under  the  arms.'] 

That's  right,  Bill.     [Does  the  same.]     Come  and 

help  us,  Sniggers.     [Sniggers  comesJ]     Keep  low, 

194 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

keep  low.  Wave  their  arms  about,  Sniggers. 
Don't  show  yourself.  Now,  Albert,  over  you  go. 
Our  Albert  is  slain.  Back  you  get,  Bill.  Back, 
Sniggers.  Still,  Albert.  Mustn't  move  when  he 
comes.  Not  a  muscle. 

[A  face  appears  at  the  window  and  stays 

for  some  time.     Then  the  door  opens  and 

looking  craftily  round  the  third  Priest 

enters.     He    looks    at  his  companions* 

bodies  and  turns  round.     He  suspects 

something.     He    takes    up    one  of  the 

knives  and  with  a  knife  in  each  hand 

he  puts  his  back  to  the  wall.    He  looks 

to  the  left  and  right.] 

Come  on,  Bill. 

[The  Priest  rushes  to  the  door.     The  To/ 
knifes  the  last  Priest  from  behind.] 
A  good  day's  work,  my  friends. 

BILL. 
Well  done,  Toffy.    Oh,  you  are  a  deep  one. 

ALBERT. 
A  deep  one  if  ever  there  was  one. 

SNIGGERS. 

There  ain't  any  more,  Bill,  are  there  ? 
195 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

THE  TOFF. 
No  more  in  the  world,  my  friend. 

BILL. 

Aye,  that's  all  there  are.  There  were  only 
three  in  the  temple.  Three  priests  and  their 
beastly  idol. 

ALBERT. 

What  is  it  worth,  Toffy  ?  Is  it  worth  a  thousand 
pounds  ? 

THE  TOFF. 

It's  worth  all  they've  got  in  the  shop.  "Worth 
just  whatever  we  like  to  ask  for  it. 

ALBERT. 
Then  we're  millionaires,  now. 

THE  TOFF. 

Yes,  and  what  is  more  important,  we  no  longer 
have  any  heirs. 

BILL. 

We'll  have  to  sell  it  now. 

ALBERT. 

That  won't  be  easy.  It's  a  pity  it  isn't  small 
and  we  had  half  a  dozen.  Hadn't  the  idol  any 
other  on  him  ? 

196 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

BILL. 

No,  he  was  green  jade  all  over  and  only  had 
this  one  eye.  He  had  it  in  the  middle  of  his  fore- 
head, and  was  a  long  sight  uglier  than  anything 
else  in  the  world. 

SNIGGERS. 

I'm  sure  we  ought  all  to  be  very  grateful  to 
Toffy. 

BILL. 
And  indeed  we  ought. 

ALBERT. 
If  it  hadn't  'ave  been  for  him 

BILL. 
Yes,  if  it  hadn't  'a'  been  for  old  Toffy    .    .    . 

SNIGGERS. 
He's  a  deep  one. 

THE  TOFF. 

Well,  you  see,  I  just  have  a  knack  of  foreseeing 
things. 

SNIGGERS. 

I  should  think  you  did. 
197 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

BILL. 

Why,  I  don't  suppose  anything  happens  that 
our  Toff  doesn't  foresee.     Does  it,  Toffy  ? 

THE  TOFF. 

Well,  I  don't  think  it  does,  Bill.    I  don't  think 
it  often  does. 

BILL. 

Life  is  no  more  than  just  a  game  of  cards  to  our 
old  Toff. 

THE  TOFF. 
Well,  we've  taken  these  fellows'  trick. 

SNIGGERS. 

{Going  to  the  window.] 
It  wouldn't  do  for  any  one  to  see  them. 

THE  TOFF. 

O  nobody  will  come  this  way.    We're  all  alone 
on  a  moor. 

BILL. 
Where  will  we  put  them  ? 

THE  TOFF. 
Bury  them  in  the  cellar,  but  there's  no  hurry. 

BILL. 

And  what  then,  Toffy  ? 
198 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

THE  TOFF. 

"Why,  then  we'll  go  to  London  and  upset  the 
ruby  business.  We  have  really  come  through 
this  job  very  nicely. 

BILL. 

I  think  the  first  thing  that  we  ought  to  do  is  to 
give  a  little  supper  to  old  Toffy.  We'll  bury  these 
fellows  to-night. 

ALBERT. 
Yes,  let's. 

SNIGGERS. 

The  very  thing. 

BILL. 
And  we'll  all  drink  his  health. 

ALBERT. 
Good  old  Toffy. 

SNIGGERS. 

He  ought  to  have  been  a  general  or  a  premier. 
{They  get  bottles  from  cupboard,  etc.] 

THE  TOFF. 
Well,  we've  earned  our  bit  of  a  supper. 

\TJiey  sit  down.] 
199 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

BILL. 

[Glass  in  hand."] 
Here's  to  old  Toffy  who  guessed  everything. 

ALBEET  AND  SNIGGEES. 
Good  old  Toffy. 

BILL. 

Toffy  who    saved    our   lives   and   made  our 
fortunes. 

ALBEET  AND  SNIGGEES. 
Hear.    Hear. 

THE  TOFF. 
And  here's  to  Bill  who  saved  me  twice  to-night. 

BILL. 

Couldn't  have  done  it  but  for  your  cleverness, 
Toffy. 

SNIGGEES. 
Hear,  hear.    Hear,  hear. 

ALBEET. 
He  foresees  everything, 

BILL. 
A  speech,  Toffy.    A  speech  from  our  general 

ALL. 

Yes,  a  speech. 

200 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

SNIGGERS. 
A  speech. 

THE  TOFF. 

Well,  get  me  some  water.  This  whiskey's  too 
much  for  my  head,  and  I  must  keep  it  clear  till 
our  friends  are  safe  in  the  cellar. 

BILL. 

Water.  Yes,  of  course.  Get  him  some  water, 
Sniggers. 

SNIGGEES. 
We  don't  use  water  here.     Where  shall  I  get  it  ? 

BILL. 
Outside  in  the  garden. 

[Exit  Sniggers.'] 

ALBERT. 
Here's  to  fortune. 

BILL. 
Here's  to  Albert  Thomas  Esquire. 

ALBEET. 
And  William  Jones  Esquire. 

{Reenter  Sniggers  terrified.] 

THE  TOFF. 

Hullo,  here's  Jacob  Smith  Esquire,  J.  P.,  alias 
Sniggers,  back  again. 

201 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

SNIGGERS. 

Toffy,  I've  been  a  thinking  about  my  share  in 
that  ruby.  I  don't  want  it,  Toffy,  I  don't  want  it. 

THE  TOFF. 

Nonsense,  Sniggers,  nonsense. 

SNIGGERS. 

You  shall  have  it,  Toffy,  you  shall  have  it  your- 
self, only  say  Sniggers  has  no  share  in  this  'ere 
ruby.  Say  it,  Toffy,  say  it. 

BILL. 
"Want  to  turn  informer,  Sniggers  ? 

SNIGGERS. 
No,  no.    Only  I  don't  want  the  ruby,  Toffy  .  .  . 

THE  TOFF. 

No  more  nonsense,  Sniggers;  we're  all  in  to- 
gether in  this.  If  one  hangs  we  all  hang;  but 
they  won't  outwit  me.  Besides,  it's  not  a  hanging 
affair ;  they  had  their  knives. 

SNIGGERS. 

Toffy,  Toffy,  I  always  treated  you  fair,  Toffy. 
I  was  always  one  to  say,  Give  Toffy  a  chance. 
Take  back  my  share,  Toffy. 
202 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

THE  TOFF. 
"What's  the  matter  ?    What  are  you  driving  at  ? 

SNIGGERS. 
Take  it  back,  Toffy. 

THE  TOFF. 
Answer  me ;  what  are  you  up  to  ? 

SNIGGERS. 
I  don't  want  my  share  any  more. 

BILL. 
Have  you  seen  the  police  ? 

[Albert  pulls  out  his  knife.] 

THE  TOFF. 
No,  no  knives,  Albert. 

ALBERT. 
What  then  ? 

THE  TOFF. 

The  honest  truth  in  open  court,  barring  the 
ruby.    We  were  attacked. 

SNIGGERS. 
There's  no  police. 

THE  TOFF. 

Well,  then,  what's  the  matter  ? 
203 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

BILL. 
Out  with  it. 

SNIGGEES. 
I  swear  to  God    .    .    . 

ALBEET. 
Well? 

THE  TOFF. 
Don't  interrupt. 

SNIGGEES. 
I  swear  I  saw  something  what  1  didn't  like. 

THE  TOFF. 
What  you  didn't  like  ? 

SNIGGEES. 

[In  tears.] 

0  Toffy,  Toffy,  take  it  back.     Take  my  share. 
Say  you  take  it. 

THE  TOFF. 
What  has  he  seen  ? 

[Dead  silence  only  broken  ~by  Sniggers*  sobs. 

Then  stony  steps  are  heard.} 
[Enter  a  hideous  Idol.     It  is  Uind  and 
gropes  its  way.     It  gropes  its  way  to 
the  ruby  and  picks  it  up  and  screws  it 
into  a  socket  in  the  forehead.'} 
204 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

[Sniggers  still  weeps  softly  y  the  rest  stare 
in    horror.     The    Idol    steps   out,    not 
groping.     Its  steps  move  of  then  stops.] 
O  great  heavens ! 

ALBERT. 

[In  a  childish,  plaintive  voice."] 
What  is  it,  Toffy  ? 

BILL. 

Albert,  it  is  that  obscene  idol  [in  a  whisper] 
come  from  India. 

ALBERT. 
It  is  gone. 

BILL. 
It  has  taken  its  eye. 

SNIGGERS. 
We  are  saved. 

OFF,  A  VOICE. 

[  With  outlandish  accent] 
Meestaire  William  Jones,  Able  Seaman. 

[The  Toff  has  never  spoken,  never  moved. 
He  only  gazes  stupidly  in  horror.] 

BILL. 
Albert,  Albert,  what  is  this  ? 

[He  rises  and  walks  out.     One  moan  is 
205 


A  Night  at  an  Inn 

heard.    Sniggers  goes  to  window.     He 
falls  lack  sickly] 

ALBEET. 

\In  a  whisper.] 
What  has  happened  ? 

SNIGGERS. 

I  have  seen  it.    I  have  seen  it.    O  I  have 
seen  it. 

[He  returns  to  table.] 

THE  TOFF. 

[Laying  his  hand  very  gently  on  Sniggers* 
arm,  speaking  softly  and  winningly] 
"What  was  it,  Sniggers  ? 

SNIGGERS. 
I  have  seen  it. 

ALBERT. 
What? 

SNIGGERS. 
O! 

YOICE. 
Meestaire  Albert  Thomas,  Able  Seaman. 

ALBERT. 

Must  I  go,  Toffy  ?    Toffy,  must  I  go  ? 
206 


A    Night  at  an  Inn 

SNIGGERS. 

[Clutching  him.'] 
Don't  move. 

ALBERT. 

[Going.] 

Toffy,  Toffy. 

[JSWfc] 

VOICE. 
Meestaire  Jacob  Smith,  Able  Seaman. 

SNIGGERS. 
I  can't  go,  Toffy.    I  can't  go.    I  can't  do  it. 

[He  goes.] 

YOICE. 

Meestaire  Arnold  Everett  Scott-Fortescue,  late 
Esquire,  Able  Seaman. 

THE  TOFF. 
I  did  not  foresee  it. 

[Exit.] 


CURTAIN. 


207 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


OCT    619878^ 


SEP  23-67 -3 


LOAN 


I    I 


LD21A-60 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


